Kachen Wongsathapornchai

Dr Kachen Wongsathapornchai, a national of Thailand, is the Head of Office for the FAO Papua New Guinea Country Office. He brings more than 20 years of experience in veterinary medicine, epidemiology and One Health.

He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and a Doctor of Philosophy in Veterinary Epidemiology from Colorado State University in the United States of America. He began his career in 2005 with Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development, working in animal health services and gaining field experience that shaped his integrated approach to animal, human and environmental health.

Dr Wongsathapornchai joined FAO in 2009 to coordinate an emergency response project addressing the H1N1 influenza outbreak in the animal sector. In 2011, he was appointed ASEAN Regional Support Unit Coordinator, supporting the ASEAN Secretariat and Member States in strengthening One Health collaboration and improving preparedness for emerging infectious diseases across Southeast Asia.

From 2015 to 2018, he led regional initiatives to build capacity in veterinary epidemiology, including the Regional Field Epidemiology Training Programme for Veterinarians, helping to strengthen linkages between animal health and public health systems.

Before assuming his current role in Papua New Guinea, he served as Regional Manager of FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) for Asia and the Pacific, overseeing programmes across 13 countries and guiding regional efforts on animal health and One Health.

Since taking up his post in Papua New Guinea, Dr Wongsathapornchai has supported national efforts to strengthen integrated health systems. In March 2024, he facilitated a Global Health Security Programme consultation workshop in Port Moresby, bringing together FAO, WHO and Government representatives to enhance coordination on animal and public health emergency preparedness.

He is also a co-author of the Quadripartite Joint Risk Assessment Operational Tools, contributing to global guidance on joint risk assessment across human, animal, plant and environmental health sectors.

Contact

FAO Office in Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Telephone: +675 342 1591
Email: [email protected]