BANGKOK — Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been named among the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Young Global Leaders, a global recognition of individuals under 40 who are driving change across industries and governments.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) announced its 2025 cohort of Young Global Leaders (YGL) earlier this week, honoring 116 individuals from more than 50 countries. The selected participants represent a broad spectrum of sectors, including public policy, finance, climate science, and creative industries. The Forum describes the program as a response to global disruption and a call for new leadership built on collaboration and long-term vision.
The three-year program provides these emerging leaders with access to academic training, immersive learning experiences, and opportunities to participate in global convenings that align with the WEF’s mission of improving the state of the world.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who assumed office recently as Thailand’s youngest and Asia’s youngest female head of government, was recognized for her leadership approach and initiatives aimed at social and economic reform. Her inclusion in the list underscores international attention on her efforts to tackle pressing domestic issues while positioning Thailand on the global stage.
According to the WEF, the YGL community fosters a new generation of leadership, encouraging innovation and systemic change at a time when challenges such as climate instability, technological transformation, and geopolitical uncertainty demand adaptive governance.
Among other notable individuals selected for the 2025 YGL list are Nomzamo Mbatha, South African actress and founder of the Nomzamo Lighthouse Foundation; Ritesh Agarwal, founder and CEO of OYO Rooms; Milojko Spajic, Prime Minister of Montenegro; and Akira Sakano, founder of Zero Waste Japan.
In recent months, Prime Minister Paetongtarn has chaired Thailand’s Soft Power Committee, led campaigns to globalize Thai cultural celebrations such as Songkran, and continued to advocate for public healthcare expansion. Her leadership has also focused on tackling issues like online scams and narcotics distribution. The recognition is seen as further validation of her leadership trajectory since taking office.
