Please join us on Thursday 3 October at Deakin Downtown for a roundtable discussion on peace building and education in the Pattani deep south of Thailand with Professor Kanok Wongtrangan. This discussion will be moderated by Dr Leanne Kelly with presenters also including A/Prof Anthony Ware and A/Prof Costas Laoutides.

Kanok Wongtrangan is a Buddhist from Thai-Chinese family in Pichit, a northern province of Thailand. He was educated in a Catholic school in Bangkok, Assumption College, and then Chulalongkorn University where he had engaged in various volunteer works such as orphans outreach teaching, summer volunteer work camps in rural areas. After his PhD from Johns Hopkins University in the USA, he returned to teach and research in politics and public affairs at Chulalongkorn University and became a Professor of Political Science. Then Kanok joined Ministry of University Affairs as a Deputy Permanent Secretary and then a CEO of a leading development store. After that he was elected as a Member of National Parliament for two terms. Now he is working as a Vice Chair of Policy Driving Committee to Minister of Social Development and Human Security of Thai government.

Kanok has worked in areas of education and community development for over 15 years aiming at poverty alleviation and quality education in rural Thailand where inequality is critical. He established a leading Muslim school, Islamic Sciences Demonstration School in Pattani province to offer a balanced education between academic excellence and moral values to secondary students in southern border of Thailand where Muslims are heavily populated.

Kanok has also promoted and engaged in interfaith dialogues and multicultural activities in order to support a peaceful coexistence and harmony in Thailand.

Some light refreshments will be provided at 12:00pm prior to the discussion beginning at 12:30pm. Please specify any dietary requirements upon registration.