First woman! The Sports Board has resolved to select Prodpran Samanmitr as the 14th governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT). She makes history as the first woman to hold this post.
On 19 August, at meeting room 2503 on the 5th floor of Government Complex Building 2, Government House, Deputy Prime Minister Thongsak Thongsri chaired the 5/2569 meeting of the Sports Authority of Thailand Board (SAT Board). Attending were Minister of Tourism and Sports Surasak Pancharoenworakul as vice-chair, Ms. Wanida Pansoad, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, SAT governor, Associate Professor Pimol Sriwikorn, Chair of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand, and other board members.
The key agenda was to consider and approve the appointment of a new SAT governor to replace Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, whose term ends on 30 September. He has served as the 13th SAT governor for two terms, totaling eight years from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2026.
Previously, the SAT governor selection committee, chaired by Ms. Natriya Taweewong, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, announced two qualified candidates from a total of ten applicants: Dr. Meechai Inwood, deputy governor for administration, and Mrs. Prodpran Samanmitr, deputy governor for professional sports and boxing.
On 10 August, the candidates underwent English communication testing, followed by interviews and presentations of their visions on 13 August. These were Dr. Meechai Inwood and Mrs. Prodpran Samanmitr. The suitable candidate was then selected and presented to the SAT Board for consideration today.
The SAT Board resolved to appoint Mrs. Prodpran Samanmitr as the next, 14th, SAT governor, making her the first woman to hold this role in Thailand. The Board also determined her compensation and drafted the contract. Next, the proposal will be submitted to the State Enterprise Policy Office (SEPO) under the Ministry of Finance for approval, then returned to the SAT Board for final approval. Afterward, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports will present the matter to the Cabinet for endorsement.
Mrs. Prodpran Samanmitr, nicknamed "Tua," was born on 1 April 1969 and is currently 57 years old. She is from Khon Kaen Province. Her education includes a bachelor's degree in Communication Arts, Mass Communication, from Chulalongkorn University, and a master's degree in Public and Private Administration from Ramkhamhaeng University.
Her career with the Sports Authority of Thailand began on 9 April 1991. She has advanced within SAT, serving as Public Relations Director from 2012-2017, Director of the Governor's Office from 2017-2021, Deputy Governor for Strategy and Information Technology from 2021-2022, Deputy Governor for Sports Promotion from 2022-2024, and since 2024, Deputy Governor for Professional Sports and Boxing.
Additionally, she completed the National Defense Course (NDC) Class 66 for the academic year 2023-2024. In 2026, the SAT Board resolved to appoint Mrs. Prodpran Samanmitr as the 14th governor of SAT, becoming the first woman to lead the Huamark sports complex.