Editorial | Dr Jiraporn Sirikum: Leading EGCO to Become a Successful, Sustainable Organisation

I don’t think anyone can refute the facts that Climate Change is now truly upon us, not with the floods in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the north, in Phuket in the south, in India, Poland and the southern USA. Air and sea temperatures are rising, and storms, monsoon, typhoons and hurricanes are becoming much fiercer and devastating, and if we are to control or curtail these superstorms and save our planet, we as individuals, companies, organisations and governments must act. This is why we, at Elite+, are focusing much more on sustainable development and related concerns.

We begin this issue with our cover story, an interview with Dr Jiraporn Sirikum, the CEO of EGCO, in which she discusses the transition towards renewable energy generation that is taking place. We later introduce you to Ongek Taechamahaphant, Shera CEO, as he discusses his company’s expansion to provide safe, ecofriendly construction materials throughout the region and beyond, and Chalakorn Eakchaipatanakul, co-founder and chef of Pluk Phak Praw Rak Mae PCL, which includes the popular Ohkajhu restaurant brand, as he talked about their commitment to organic, sustainable farming at the Prachachat ESG Forum 2024. Later, we talk about the Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 and its theme, Nurture Gaia, uniting art, nature and humanity. Sponsored and organised by Thai Beverage PCL, we also promote the SX Sustainability Expo 2024 (SX2024), which is being held right now from 27 September to 6 October of this year.

In related articles, we take you to the Mogoa Caves of the Thousand Buddhas at a crossroads of the Silk Roads dating back thousands of years before we take you trekking in Nepal’s ageless Solukhumbu region before ending with a photo essay about Heraklion of the Minoan civilisation on the island of Crete, all depicting the preservation of important ancient sites and culture.

In between these stories, we introduce Khao on Wireless road, the epitome of Thai fine dining as well as take you on an adventure in search of orangutans before telling you the best ways to care for your hair and nails. After this, we introduce you to the 2024 winner of the Chommanard Book Prize, Parimmaphatra Waithayawongsakul, and her fantasy fiction, The Vampire and The Tree, before sharing a short story by national artist Seksan Prasertkul, “A Wound of Its Kind”, which tells about the relationship between a man and his dogs.

I think this issue of Elite+ provides much stimulus for thought, especially when you are reading while the sky continue to open with powerful rain storms until the end of this rainy season between Og Phansa and Loy Krathong.

Arthorn Techatada
Executive Editor