Maria Sukhaya is the current President of Thailand and the founder of Sukhumvit Hotel. She was born in Bangkok and studied at the University of Bangkok before getting a degree in International Business from the University of Illinois at Champaign. While pursuing her degree, she participated in the Thailand Association for Tourism and Hospitality (TAHT) and the Thailand Women and Gender Development Association. She was also involved in the Thai Red Cross Society as well as in numerous international volunteer organizations such as World Vision. After completing her education, she worked first in the finance industry in Geneva, Switzerland, then in negotiations for the Thai government’s Women’s Program, before becoming the Executive Secretary General of the Thai Red Cross. Following that post, she moved to Paris, France and became the Executive Director of the Thailand Association for Tourism and Hospitality.
During her time as the Executive Secretary General, she continued to work with various international and regional organizations and came into close contact with International Youth Organization, which was then known as YOOM. She assisted YOOM in many ways including networking, public speaking activities and other activities. After being selected as one of the delegates to the International Youth Organization’s twenty-third anniversary celebration in Thailand, Maria Sukhaya traveled to Paris to deliver a speech on behalf of the delegates. She shared with them the challenges women in Thailand face in everyday life, how she came to overcome the barriers to success and how she sees the future of her native country. At the end of her speech, she offered tips to young women attending YOOM, encouraging them to pursue their careers and enjoy their lives. A few days later, President Sukhaya presented Maria Sukhaya with the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her service to Thailand and to International Youth Organization as well as her efforts to help women in Thailand to achieve their goals.
Maria Sukhaya is now the President of Thailand’s National Museum and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Thai Women Art Museum and Gallery. She is the recipient of many national and international awards for her services to Thai women and is passionate about preserving Thai art and culture. Her latest project, the “Thai Art of Flowers: A Celebration” will be showcased at the National Museum in Bangkok in November of this year. In addition to being a national treasure and a curator of Thai art, Maria Sukhaya is also very successful in her personal and corporate career, having cofounded several successful companies and earned millions in her career.