Dr Surapee Rojanavongse
FOUNDER & honORARY chairperson - thailand
Dr Surapee Rojanavongse has been involved in countless activities in the development and promotion of handicrafts for more than forty years at both national and international levels. She has been President of the Thai Handicraft Promotion Trade Association (THTA) since 1976 and Chairperson of AHPADA since 1981. She is also a Past President of the World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) and is currently an Advisor and Honorary Member of the World Crafts Council and WCC-APR. As a Founding Member and Lifetime Honorary Chairperson of AHPADA, she collaborated in 2001 with the UNESCO Regional Office to launch the UNESCO - AHPADA Seal of Excellence, now the WCC Award of Excellence.
Dr Sitthichai Smanchat
Honorary president - thailand
Dr Sitthichai Smanchat is a lecturer (Assoc Prof Dr) at Ubon Ratchathani University, Thailand. He is also currently Vice President of the World Crafts Council – Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR). Dr Sitthichai brings with him 15 years of experience in craft development. His research specialties involve Thai textile history, including on chintz history in India, Siam and Japan. He has served as jury member in WCC-APR and ASEAN handicraft awards, such as ASEAN Selections Awards (SACCIT) (2016 and 2017), INACRAFT Awards (2018, 2019 and 2023), WCC-APR Awards of Excellence (2022) and WCC-APR Craft Masters Awards (2023). He was also a product development expert for OTOP (the One Tambon One Product entrepreneurship program) in Thailand.
Edric Ong
Advisor - Malaysia
Edric Ong is Advisor and Past President of Society Atelier Sarawak in Malaysia and Advisor and Past Senior Vice President of the World Crafts Council – Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR). An architect by training, he has written several books on the cultural heritage of Sarawak, Malaysia. He is a noted speaker at international conferences and established the World Eco-Fiber and Textile (WEFT) Network to further the cause of natural fibers and dyes. He is a multi-awarded designer of natural dye textiles, fashion and crafts and has curated many exhibitions in multiple countries worldwide.
YM Raja Fuziah Raja Tun Uda
co-founder / advisor - malaysia
YM Raja Datin Paduka Fuziah binti Raja Tun Uda has had a long and distinguished career in the development of the arts and crafts. After serving ten years with the training division of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), she was appointed in 1979 as the first Director General of the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation. From 1986 to 1989, she worked at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture in Istanbul, Turkey. She is also a former President of the World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR) and President of the Crafts Council of Malaysia. In 2009, she received Malaysia’s National Arts Award for her efforts in promoting the arts. She is the author of BATIK MALAYSIA: Design & Innovation 1960s-1990s (2012), BATIK SARONG: Heritage of Today for Tomorrow (2017) and of several articles published in local and international journals and magazines.
Past Presidents
1981 - 1988 Thailand Dr Surapee Rojanavongse
1989 - 1991 Indonesia Abdul Latif
1992 - 1994 Malaysia Raja Fuziah Raja Tun Uda
1995 - 1996 Philippines Rose D. Teodoro
1999 - 2000 Thailand Dr Surapee Rojavangse
2001 - 2004 Indonesia Rudy Lengkong
2004 - 2005 Malaysia Edric Ong
2006 - 2010 Philippines Dr Mina Gabor
2010 - 2015 Thailand Dr Supanee Chayabutra
2015 - 2017 Indonesia Thamrin Bustami
2017 - 2023 Malaysia Edric Ong
