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NI
Thailand
Biography
Honourable Dr. Nophadol In-na was born on 16 November 1960. He is an elected Senator of the Kingdom of Thailand, serving in the Senate (Upper House) for a five-year term from 2024 to 2029. Previously, he served as a Member of the House of Representatives (Lower House) from 2001 to 2005.
Dr. In-na possesses an outstanding academic background. He earned a Ph.D. in Engineering Hydrology from McGill University, Canada, and was placed on the Dean’s Honour List. He also obtained a Master of Science (First Class Honours) from the National University of Ireland, a Master of Engineering from the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), and a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) from Khon Kaen University, Thailand. In recognition of his professional and academic achievements, Khon Kaen University conferred upon him its Outstanding Alumni Award in 2002, presented by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
In addition to his academic qualifications in science and engineering, Dr. In-na completed a Diploma in GIS and Remote Sensing Applications for the Water Sector from UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, the Netherlands; a Diploma in Land Management and Informal Settlement Regularization from the International Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), the Netherlands; and a Certificate in the Corporate Environmental Leadership Seminar from Yale University, United States of America.
Professional Experience
Following the completion of his postdoctoral research at McGill University in 1989, Dr. In-na joined Thammasat University as a lecturer. He later became a co-founder and the first Executive Director of the Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology (SIIT), Thailand’s first international engineering institute offering programmes in English. In addition, he also served as an Associate Faculty Member at AIT.
Subsequently, he was appointed Vice Rector for Planning, Development and Technology at Thammasat University. During this period, he was entrusted by the Minister of Science, Technology and Environment with establishing Thailand’s first Science and Technology Park.
Dr. In-na has also held senior positions in the private sector, including appointments with Telecom Holding (TH) Co., Ltd., Technology Operation Group (TOP) Co., Ltd., and UK Victory Ltd.
During his tenure as a Member of the House of Representatives, he served as Vice-Chairperson of both the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. He represented the Thai Parliament at numerous international parliamentary meetings and played an active role in parliamentary diplomacy. The meetings include the 10th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), Hawaii, USA in 2002, the 11th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2003, the 11th General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentarians' Conference on Environment and Development (APPCED), Korolevu, Republic of Fiji in 2004, the Cancun session of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO, Cancun, Mexico in 2004 and the 12 th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), Beijing, People’s Republic of China in 2005. He was appointed Executive Vice-Chairperson of several Thailand Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Groups, including Thailand–Germany, Thailand–France, and Thailand–Brazil, and served as Spokesperson of the Thailand–Argentina Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group.
In addition to his parliamentary responsibilities, Dr. In-na served as Political Secretary to the Minister of Justice, Professor Dr. Purachai Piumsombun, and as Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs.
Current Responsibilities
As a Senator, Dr. In-na currently holds several key leadership positions. He serves as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development and Chairperson of the Senate Advisory Committee on Foreign Affairs. He is also Senate Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Commerce and Industry and Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Independent Constitutional Organizations, Anti-Corruption and Good Governance.
Within the National Assembly of Thailand, he serves as Chairperson of the Thailand–Czech Republic Parliamentarians Friendship Group and as a Member of the Executive Board of the Thailand–Peru Parliamentarians Friendship Group. He is also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Information Technology and Communication and the IPU Parliamentary Committee, Thailand.
International Engagement
At the international level, Dr. In-na was appointed in October 2024 by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) as a member of its Working Group on Science and Technology (WGST), a body established by the IPU Governing Council to serve as the global parliamentary focal point on science and technology issues. His appointment carries a four-year term.
In April 2025, he was elected Vice-Chairperson of the WGST. Subsequently, during the 151st Assembly of the IPU, he was appointed Rapporteur for the AI Ethics Annex, a landmark document expected to form part of an international parliamentary framework on artificial intelligence and ethics for the IPU’s 183 Member Parliaments, subject to adoption by the IPU Assembly in October 2026.
At the 152nd Assembly of the IPU, held in Istanbul, Türkiye, in April 2026, Dr. In-na represented the Thai Parliament and chaired the ASEAN Plus Three Parliamentary Coordination Meeting, comprising ASEAN Member States together with China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, as part of the Assembly’s official programme.
Public Service and Vision
Throughout his distinguished career in academia, public administration, politics, and international affairs, Dr. Nophadol In-na has remained committed to advancing science, technology, environmental sustainability, ethical governance, and international cooperation. His contributions continue to support national development while strengthening Thailand’s engagement in regional and global parliamentary diplomacy.
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