Page 27 - BPWUK - E-news - Edition 107 - November 2022 - BINDED_Neat

Dr. Chonchanok Viravan, Ph.D.
BPW International President 2005-2008

I was greatly saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Chonchanok Viravan of Thailand or Nok
as she was affectionately known who served as President of BPW International from 2005 to
2008.

Previously she had been BPW International Vice President for United Nations (2002-2005)
and Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator (1999-2002), both roles in which she excelled.
Her enthusiasm, creativity and hard work was evident in everything she did.

President of Pathanasomdoon Company Limited, which manages Real Estates and conducts
communication training, she had previously had leading roles in software and computer
technology and e-Business in the Bank of Asia and as Assistant to the Thai Prime Minister.

My relationship with Nok began in 1996 when I appointed her to be the representative to
UNESCAP, a role she undertook from 1996-2008 and 2014 to the present. Her greatest
passion was promoting other women to succeed and in 1999 at the Vancouver congress, she
launched "Beyond 2000 - Helping Women to Help Themselves". This project grew into "BPW
Power to make a Difference Awards" and is now a major feature at each International
Congress.

Her intense interest in Gender Budgeting, Green Growth Strategies, STEM for Education and
Sustainable Financial Development were all aspects on which she advocated.

Numerous awards came to her for dedication and outstanding work, and she was very proud
to receive the two highest BPW International awards: the Lena Madesin Phillips Award
(2017) and Badge of Honour Award (2014) for her work on the empowerment of women.
Many others were received in Thailand including being named 1 of 20 Women Who Make a
Difference (2011) from Thailand Tatler Magazine for her contribution to National IT policy.

But there was also a fun side to this hardworking woman and times to remember when we
went up the London Eye, danced on the deck of a boat at the farewell party of the first
YBPW meeting she organised in Mexico and great sightseeing trips wherever we visited. Her
poetry, especially her New Year beautifully written and presented poems, will remain with us
as a treasured memory of a woman who was so talented, a great contributor to the work of
BPW International and a dear friend.

Sylvia Perry
Past International President (1996 - 1999)