A diplomat with a passion for the environment, Hon. Consul General Thassanee W. Wanick holds a master’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. She became a well-known expert in business and sustainability and was a professor of sustainable economics for the MBA program at the Tec de Monterrey, Mexico during her sabbatical. She was also a guest lecturer at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is the founder and first chair of the board of the Green Building Council Brazil and a former board member of the World Green Building Council. She has been a lecturer and speaker in various government and business events including the first Wharton-UN Global Compact International Conference, UN Habitat, International Biofuels Conference, the Petroleum Authority of Thailand, CEMEX University Television Broadcast, the World Bank-IFC’s Sustainable Finance launch of the Sustainability Index of the Brazilian Stock Exchange, and the Amazonas’ World Sustainability Forum. Among the other speakers were former President Bill Clinton, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sir Richard Branson, and Mr. James Cameron, filmmaker. She created and organized a campaign to fight global warming called One Degree Less in partnership with Dr. Akbari from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California Energy Commissioner Dr. Arthur Rosenfeld, CNN international, ROLEX Sailing Week, and more to help reduce the temperature of the planet, using white reflective cool roofs and surfaces. Celsius, the giant polar bear mascot of the campaign, became a beloved character for adults and schoolchildren alike. She was a keynote speaker during the First Green Inaugural Ball of President Barack Obama in 2009, Washington, D.C. Thassanee was awarded the Royal Honour of “Commander of the Most Noble Order of the Crown,” bestowed by His Majesty the King of Thailand. She attended a private presentation and dinner hosted by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to discuss sustainable urban development at St. James Palace, London, England.
