Election 2026: A look into the profile of Dr. Or – Kandi Leo-Pairot, a strong technology-driven woman and the third prime ministerial candidate of the Democrat Party.
On 30 December 2025, the 2026 election is approaching after the Election Commission (EC) set 8 February 2026 as the date for the general election of the Thai House of Representatives, which will also include a constitutional referendum. Over 50 political parties are fielding candidates for both constituency and party list MPs, as well as prime ministerial candidates to compete in this election.
The Democrat Party is fielding 98 candidates for constituency and party list MPs, with three prime ministerial candidates: Abhisit Vejjajiva, party leader and first candidate; Korn Chatikavanij, second candidate; and Kandi Leo-Pairot, third candidate.
Kandi Leo-Pairot, nicknamed Or and often called Dr. Or, is 50 years old (as of 2025). She holds a bachelor's degree from Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology and received scholarships to pursue her master's and doctoral degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. She began her career as a lecturer in industrial engineering and the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy at Thammasat University for over 13 years before advancing to executive roles.
Her past roles include Managing Director of C ASEAN, where she built an ecosystem connecting technology across ASEAN, and advisor to the Deputy Minister of Commerce, promoting the creative economy to national scale. She later became Director of the Thailand Future Design Institute and currently serves as Chief Foresight Officer at FutureTales Lab. She is a prominent strong woman in technology, business, innovation, and future studies, inspiring women in technology with her industrial engineering background and over 20 years of experience driving digital economy policies, creative economy, social innovation, and youth empowerment. As a business executive and strategic futurist, she co-founded digital asset consulting firm ICORA to advance technology-related reforms and legislation, and leads FutureTales Lab by MQDC to explore futures for sustainable cities and businesses.
Additionally, she serves as an expert board member of the Office of the Creative Economy Promotion, the Electronic Transactions Development Agency, and as a Deeptech Commercialization advisor at Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology (VISTEC). She is also a board member of science and technology companies listed on the stock exchange. She emphasizes using modern technology to develop Thailand's economy equitably, believing strongly in the power of youth and cross-generational collaboration. As director of the Thailand Future Design Institute, chaired by Surin Pitsuwan, she opened platforms and created opportunities for young people to showcase their potential, apply technology to transform society, and jointly build an equitable and diverse Thailand for a future everyone participates in.
/