The Opening Ceremony of Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2026 was held on 23 April 2026 at the Office of the NBTC in Bangkok and online. Under the theme “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future,” the event brought together government, international organizations, industry, academia and young people to discuss closing the gender digital divide and strengthening digital and AI skills.

Agenda

MC: Ms Punyapha Visavakornvisisd (Prim)

Welcoming Remarks

• Ms Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
• Mr Trairat Viriyasirikul, Deputy Secretary General Acting Secretary General, Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Thailand

Keynote Address

• Ms Kalaya Chinatiworn, Principal Advisor for Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society, Thailand
• Mr Chusin Voradaj, Inspector-General for Education, Ministry of Education, Thailand

Official Launching of Girls in ICT Day Thailand 2026

Group Photos

Special Panel Session

According to the ITU Report Measuring Digital Development: Facts and Figures 2025, globally, 77 per cent of men used the Internet, compared with 71 per cent of women. This disparity highlighted the need to ensure that girls and young women were not left behind in the digital age. Building on the theme of Girls in ICT Day 2026, panellists discussed the impact of the digital divide on girls, women, youth, and other vulnerable individuals, as well as the importance of promoting STEM education, ICT careers, and advanced digital skills, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies.

Moderator: Ms Duyen Lam, Student, Computer Science program, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

Panellists:

• Ms Iwona Spytkowski, Head, UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Thailand
• Dr Chalitda JI Madhyamapurush, Executive Senior Consultant in Technology, Business & Law, Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) and AI Governance Center (AIGC)
• Dr Pinnaree Tea-makorn, Expert Fellows at AI Governance Center (AIGC), and Lecturer and AI Strategist at Sasin School of Management, Chulalongkorn University

Moderator: Ms Punyapha Visavakornvisisd (Prim)

Speakers:

• Ms Narikun Ketprapakorn (Frung), Actor, Tiktoker
• Ms Nicole Nam, Actor, Tiktoker

This session included interactive dialogues/presentations/interviews between girls and young women, youth, and the Girls in ICT Day Thailand partners to share their insights and experiences related to this year’s Girls in ICT Day 2026 theme on “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”.

This session was divided into three sections with the participation of the Girls in ICT Day Thailand partners from UN Agencies/international organisations; Industry; and Academia, who were invited to discuss specific topics focusing on “AI for Development: Girls Shaping the Digital Future”.

This session shared perspectives from UN agencies and international organizations on the importance of bridging the gender digital divide and equipping girls and young women and youth with digital and AI-related skills needed for future education and careers. Speakers/partners were invited to present their initiatives/activities to advance STEM education, ICT careers, and digital and AI-related skill development for girls, young women, and youth.

Moderator: Ms Nutteera Tungkasikij, Student, Chulalongkorn University

Speakers:

• Ms Chalita Thanyakoop, Education Officer, UNICEF Thailand Country Office
• Ms Angela Wibawa, Director APAC, Government and IGO Engagement, ICANN (remote)
• Mr Joshua James, Regional Counter-Cybercrime Coordinator, UNODC
• Ms Wasinee Noppakunthong, SDG4 Associate Coordinator for Asia-Pacific, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (remote)
• Mr Somchai Yensabai, Country Programme Coordinator for Thailand, UN Women Thailand (remote)

This session invited speakers/partners to share their thoughts and insights from the industry on the future trends, as well as on how AI and emerging technologies could be harnessed to prepare youth for the future of jobs.

Moderator: Ms Nisawan Ngambenjavichaikul, Student, Chulalongkorn University

Speakers:

• Ms Suthinee Leelahemaratana, Business Development Manager, CISCO Systems Thailand
• Ms Iris Luo, Chief Human Resources Officer, ZTE Thailand
• Ms Emi Shitara, President, Japan Brand Communication (remote)
• Ms Varaporn Pangboonyanon, Deputy Director, Learning Service Department, Huawei Thailand

The session discussed perspectives from academia on the importance of STEM education and the need for equipping girls and young women, and youth with the digital and AI-related skills needed for their future education.

Moderator: Ms Ilana Songssomphan, Student, International Relations and Global Affairs program, Mahidol University International College

Speakers:

• Dr Supavadee Aramvith, Professor, Electrical Engineering, Chulalongkorn University
• Dr Daniel James McFarlane, Lecturer, Mahidol University
• Dr Kathy O’Sullivan, Director, Language Center, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

This session engaged youth participants in sharing their thoughts and reflections from the discussions of the Opening Ceremony event, as well as their expectations for Girls in ICT Thailand 2026 programme activities, by using online poll platforms.

Moderator: Ms Mi Kyoung Park, Programme Administrator, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

• Ms Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
• Ms Rujira Thammachat, Executive Director of the International Bureau, Office of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission, Thailand