Bangkok Council Elects First Female Chairwoman

Pattaraphon Kaengrungruengchai, known as Noes, a Bangkok councilwoman from the Pheu Thai Party representing Bang Sue district, has been elected as the first female chairwoman of the Bangkok Metropolitan Council with 39 votes in favor.

Noes was born on November 29, 1988. She holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Chulalongkorn University, a master's degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a specialist certificate in marketing strategy for executives from the University of Melbourne. She was also an exchange student in the United States for Grade 10 and completed her English-medium secondary education at Yothin Boonrarangsit School, Class 71.

Her work experience includes serving as managing director of Thai Scrap Steel and Recycling Company and founding a rental housing business before her council service in Bang Sue District 1.

Over four years in the district council, Noes has achieved significant results. She secured an eightfold increase in the district budget and resolved over 1,559 complaints out of 1,745 filed. Her infrastructure projects include installing solar lights along 8 canals at 394 locations and in 14 communities with 167 units, advocating for the opening of the Bang Sue-Chatuchak tunnel, initiating a 2.8-kilometer public park improvement project along Prasaratchit Canal, and improving sidewalks along Prachaipattanah Road.

At the council level, Noes has demonstrated strong oversight work, including securing the return of budget allocations for unnecessary consultant fees on earthquake resistance assessments, investigating sexual harassment cases resulting in severe disciplinary action against officials, and uncovering budget irregularities that led to a 4-project budget reduction of 194.43 million baht, saving public funds by over 90 million baht.