Minister of Culture, Kingdom of Thailand

Vira Rojpojchanarat started his career as an architect in Division of Archaeology, Fine Arts Department. Through decades of intensive training on preservation and restoration of ancient monuments in Indonesia, Japan, and Italy, together with his expertise in cultural management and education for the disabled, he was appointed Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Culture in 2006, Advisor to the Prime Minister in 2010, and Minister of Culture in 2014. He has also gained experiences on collaborating with international organizations, such as UNESCO, ICOMOS, and SPAFA, and is an active advocate of preserving and reviving ancient cultures and traditions, including local cultures, in Thailand. As Minister of Culture, he aims to contribute to younger generations by promoting cultural learning and enhancing the ability to compete in the creative industry at the global level. With the ongoing cultural strategy, he wishes to transform Thailand into a contributor of new ideas, creativity, and innovations by using arts and culture as learning tools. His latest projects include the extended construction project for Thailand Cultural Center, the nomination of potential world heritages in Thailand, and the management of cultural capitals for creative industry.