Organising Committee

The very first Chairman of the S.E.A. Write Organising Committee, from 1979 until 1981, was the late H.H. Prince Prem Purachatra, one of Thailand's prominent literary figures. On His Highness' demise in 1981, his consort Princess Ngamchit Purachatra assumed the chairmanship. In 1982 Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously consented to become the Honorary Chairperson of the Organising Committee.

After Princess Ngamchit passed away in 1983, Her Highness Princess Vimalachatra, sister of H.H. Prince Prem Purachatra, took up the chairmanship. H.H. Princess Vimalchatra resigned from the chairmanship in early 1992 due to health reasons. She was succeeded by H.S.H Professor Prince Subhadradis Diskul, one of Thailand's most famous scholars, until 1997.

The late M.L. Birabhongse Kasemsri, His Majesty's Principal Private Secretary, was Chairman from 1998 to 1999. Upon M.L. Birabhongse's demise in 1999, M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, took the helm and has been S.E.A. Write Organising Committee Chairman since then.

The current Organising Committee is currently chaired by M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra. Committee members include Presidents the PEN Club of Thailand, and the Writers’ Association of Thailand; representatives from nine ASEAN Embassies and sponsors. 2005 sponsors comprise: Thai Airways International Public Co., Ltd., Bangkok Bank Public Co., Ltd, American Express (Thai) Co., Ltd., Sangsom Group, The Rex Morgan Foundation, Heritage International Limited, Chumbhot-Pantip Foundation, Bank of Thailand, Toshiba Thailand Co.,Ltd., Export-Import Bank of Thailand, British Gas Asia Pacific Pte Limited, BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd., Srithai Superware Public Co., Ltd., World Travel Service, and The Oriental, Bangkok..