Khun Ying Thongtip Ratanarat (Thai: คุณหญิงทองทิพ รัตนะรัต; born 24 June 1942)[1] is a Thai chemical engineer. She is a member of the board of directors of The Siam Fine Chemicals and of the Foundation for the Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT). From 1985 to 2005 she was the PTIT's executive director.
Thongtip Ratanarat | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 June 1942 |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Occupation | Chemist |
| Known for | Former executive director of Petroleum Institute of Thailand |
| Spouse | Chira Ratanarat |
| Children | Three sons |
Life and work
editAfter completing her studies in chemical engineering, Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat became a research assistant at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. When she returned to Thailand, she worked as a lecturer in chemical engineering at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in applied geophysics from Chiang Mai University in 2005.[1] She also received an honorary PhD in chemical engineering from Kasetsart University for her work in 2013.[2]
From 1985 to 2005 she was executive director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand. Subsequently, she worked as an advisor to the PTT Public Co., Ltd.[3] She is Member of the Board of Directors of The Siam Fine Chemicals.[4] She was judge of the Platts Global Energy Awards in 2004, 2011 and 2013.[5][6] She was the chairperson of the committee investigating the 2013 Rayong oil spill.[7] She is also a member of the national advisory board of the Chulabhorn Research Institute in Bangkok[8] and director emeritus of the Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources.[9]
Thongtip has sung with King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Au Saw Friday Band.[10] She has been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Sirikit since 1973.[11]
Development of biofuels
editDuring her career she encouraged the local production of natural gas and focussed particularly on the development of biofuels, to overcome the volatility of the petroleum market. By 2002 she observed that ‘vulnerability is the rule of the game’ due to instability and tension in the Middle East and the related terrorism threats. In terms of self-reliance Europe and Asia were therefore following the U.S. in looking for deriving energy from other sources.[12] In 2004 she noted that Thailand needs a master plan to maximise the value of locally produced natural gas.[13] In 2012 she was quoted as saying: ‘We should get more serious about joint development of biofuels as, in the future, oil prices will definitely increase. It will also help strengthen the Asean Economic Community as we could all grow, blend, sell and consume by ourselves’.[14] She urged the government to encourage the use of E20 and E85 ethanol blended fuel among Thai motorists.[15]
Family
editShe is a sister of Thongchat Hongladarom, the first governor of PTT, when it was still a state enterprise.[16]
She married in 1969 Chira Ratanarat, who is now the chief executive officer of The Siam Chemicals Public Company (SCC), and has with him three sons: Tisanu Ratanarat (born 1974), Sichart Ratanarat (born 1976) and Porapong Ratanarat (born 1982).[17]
Publications
edit- Thongtip Ratanarat; et al. (1987). Population policy background paper for the sixth national economic and social development plan. Thailand Development Research Institute; Human Resources Institute, Thammasat University.
- Thongtip Ratanarat; et al. (2003). From banana leaf to plastic bag (PDF). The Petroleum Institute of Thailand.
References
edit- ^ a b Vita of Khunying Thonghip Ratanarat (Thai)
- ^ KU News: มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์ มอบปริญญากิตติมศักดิ์ แก่ผู้ทรงคุณวุฒิ ในพิธีพระราชทานปริญญาบัตร ประจำปี 2556 Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine (Thai).
- ^ Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization). Archived 2015-11-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Company Profile: The Siam Fine Chemicals.
- ^ Platts, McGraw Hill Financial: The 2004 Global Energy Awards.
- ^ Platts Global Energy Awards 2011: Recognizing the Stars of the Global Energy Industry
- ^ Oil spill: Panel says PTTGC was not at fault. Bangkok Post, 15 August 2013.
- ^ National Advisory Board of the Chulabhorn Research Institute.
- ^ Officers and Directors of the Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources.
- ^ "The Au Saw Friday Band: A History", King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Music, The Government Public Relations Department, retrieved 6 November 2015
- ^ "ประกาศสำนักพระราชวัง เรื่อง ทรงพระกรุณาโปรดเกล้าฯ ให้นางทองทิพย์ รัตนะรัต เป็นนางสนองพระโอษฐ์" (PDF), Royal Thai Government Gazette, 90 (100): 2331, 7 August 1973, archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016
- ^ Oil prices: Volatility expected to get worse.
- ^ Thailand to invest in 33 petrochemical projects.
- ^ Thai energy advocates call for biofuels investment.
- ^ Thai Government Urged To Promote Ethanol Use.
- ^ Wasant Techawongtham: Oil spill panel fails to win over public trust. Bangkok Post, 30 August 2013.
- ^ นายจิระ รัตนะรัต: กงสุลกิตติมศักดิ์ราชอาณาจักรโมร็อกโกประจำประเทศไทย Honorary Consul of the Kingdom Morocco to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Further reading
edit- ยุพยง เหมะศิลปิน (Yupayong Hemasilpin) and เปรื่องบุญ จักกะพาก (Preungboon Chakkaphak): สัมภาษณ์พิเศษ คุณหญิง ทองทิพ รัตนะรัต ผู้อำนวยการสถาบันปิโตรเลียม แห่งประเทศไทย (Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat. Director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand). Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Engineering. December 1988 (on-line reference).
- Laurie Rosenthal (1991), "Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat – Aiming for Excellence", Business Review, 20: 26–27.
- Victoria S. Licuanan (1992), Beyond Profit: ASEAN Woman Managers in Government and Not-for-profit Organizations, Asian Institute of Management.