Embassy of Ireland in Thailand and IWC mark St Brigid’s Day 2026 with 'Women in Leadership' Panel Discussion

Bangkok, 3 February 2026 – In celebration of St Brigid's Day 2026, the Embassy of Ireland in Thailand, in partnership with the International Women's Club of Thailand (IWC), hosted a ‘Women in Leadership’ Panel Discussion, focused on empowering women through knowledge sharing from leading women in healthcare, business, international development, and education sectors, who shared their experiences to inspire the next generation of female leaders.

Speaking at the opening of the event, H.E. Mr. Pat Bourne, Ambassador of Ireland to Thailand, said:

“St Brigid’s Day celebrates the vital role women have always played in our societies. Through this discussion, the Embassy wanted to create a welcoming space where women could share real leadership experiences, learn from one another, and feel encouraged to step forward into leadership and decision-making roles.”

Joy Nicharot, the President of the International Women's Club of Thailand highlighted IWC’s long history of supporting women in Thailand and its pride in partnering on the event.

“For many years, IWC has worked to connect as well as empower women from diverse backgrounds. So, this event reflects that mission by bringing together talented women leaders who are members of our clubs to share their experiences, lessons learned, and insights, creating inspiration and opportunity for women across our community,”

The panellist discussion featured influential Thai and Irish female leaders:

• Dr. Artirat Charukitpipat, CEO of Bumrungrad International Hospital

• Niamh Collier-Smith, Resident Representative in Thailand, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• Thapanee Techajareonvikul, CEO & President of Berli Jucker Public Company Limited

• Rita Bateson, Co-Founder & Director of Education, Eblana Learning

Panellists reflected on pivotal moments that shaped their leadership paths, from leading large-scale digital transformation in healthcare during the COVID-19 crisis, to becoming the first woman to head a 140-year-old Thai company, and navigating global development work while balancing the demands of family life.

The event concluded with a shared call for continued mentorship, systemic change, and collective action to remove barriers to women’s advancement in leadership across all sectors.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Events Team

Email: Eventsbangkok@dfa.ie