The Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Kaewkamol (Karen) Pitakdumrongkit as the Interim Secretary General of the PECC International Secretariat, effective 3 February 2025.

She succeeds Mr Eduardo Pedrosa, who has been appointed as Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat.

Prior to this role, Dr Pitakdumrongkit served as Head of the Centre for Multilateralism Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU). She led a team of researchers and oversaw policy studies, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr Pitakdumrongkit brings extensive experience in leadership roles at RSIS, having also served as Deputy Head of the Centre for Multilateralism Studies. She has a proven track record in managing funds from diverse stakeholders, publishing research in high-impact outlets, and providing strategic insights to governments, international organizations, and businesses.

In addition to her academic leadership, Dr Pitakdumrongkit contributed to the Economist Intelligence Unit as a part-time analyst, where she provided market intelligence and analyzed regional and global developments.

Her contributions to the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Blueprint 2025 as a commissioned expert reflect her commitment to shaping policy frameworks for regional integration.

Dr Pitakdumrongkit earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, specializing in International Political Economy and International Relations. She also holds a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on International Relations from California State University, Long Beach.

PECC warmly welcomes Dr Pitakdumrongkit to her new role and looks forward to her leadership in advancing PECC’s mission.