Kanang Kantamaturapoj

TH- Kanang Headshot.jpg

Thailand

Kanang Kantamaturapoj

Kanang Kantamaturapoj is a dedicated advocate for public participation in Thailand’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system. She currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Mahidol University, and as the Chair of the Doctor of Philosophy Program in Environmental Social Sciences. Her teaching and research focus on public participation in EIA, stakeholder engagement, and stakeholder analysis. Kanang has been involved in the review and approval of EIA projects for over a decade, serving on the Expert Review Committee under the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning. Her commitment to reform was solidified early in her career when she witnessed the exclusion of local communities from critical decision-making processes in a contentious development project. This experience highlighted systemic flaws in the EIA process and inspired her to advocate for change. Kanang played a key role in revising Thailand’s National Public Participation Guideline, institutionalizing a more systematic and inclusive approach to stakeholder engagement. Despite significant progress, she believes structural reforms are still needed in both legal and cultural domains. Kanang looks forward to developing her understanding of equity issues in the region as she continues her advocacy journey to fostering a more participatory and just society. ​​​​​​