Media Release by SAFN Washington, DC.
Washington, DC (December 19th, 2024) – The South Asia Foresight Network (SAFN), an initiative under the Millennium Project, is pleased to announce the appointment of two distinguished scholars from Cambodia and Thailand as Senior Fellows. Their expertise will significantly contribute to SAFN’s growing body of research and strengthen its position as a leading network for scholarly and strategic foresight in South Asia and beyond.
Dr. Kin Phea serves as the Director General of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia (IRIC) at the Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC). He joined IRIC in 2005, following a tenure at the Ministry of Interior from 1998 to 2003 and subsequently at the RAC’s Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences from 2003 to 2005. Throughout his career at IRIC, Kin Phea has held several leadership roles. He was appointed Director of the Department of Diplomatic Studies in 2009, promoted to Deputy Director General in 2016, and became Director General in 2017, a role he continues to hold.
In addition to his work at IRIC, Kin Phea was named a Special Senior Research Fellow at the National Institute for Global Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in 2016. Since November 2017, he has also served as a Member of the National Council of Khmer Language (NCKL) and is Chairman of the NCKL’s Committee on Political Science Terminology. Ph.D. in Political Science, Royal Academy of Cambodia (2011), Master’s Degree in Political Science, Royal Academy of Cambodia (2003), Middle-Ranking Official Diploma in General Administration, Royal School of Administration (2002), Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, National Institute of Management (1998) and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Royal University of Phnom Penh (1998).
Dr. Bandit Aroman is a distinguished academic and researcher specializing in West Asian and South Asian studies. He currently serves as the Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation and an instructor at the International Islamic College Bangkok, Krirk University, Thailand. Dr. Aroman also holds additional roles, working with the South Asian Studies Center, Chulalongkorn University. Beyond academia, he is an active contributor to community development as the Secretary of the AMU Alumni Association in Thailand and a board member of both the Islamsri Ayutthaya Foundation School and ActionAid International (Thailand). With a Ph.D. in West Asian Studies from Aligarh Muslim University, India, Dr. Aroman’s academic contributions encompass diverse topics such as the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), halal industry promotion, tourism development, and extremism studies. He has published extensively in international journals and participated in conferences worldwide. His ongoing research focuses on leveraging multiculturalism and community heritage for sustainable economic and social development in Thailand. Dr. Aroman’s career also includes significant policy work, including serving as a Plan and Policy Officer at the Office of the National Security Council in Bangkok and lecturing at esteemed Thai universities. His interdisciplinary expertise and dedication to fostering cross-cultural understanding highlight his impact as a scholar and leader.
SAFN, one of the fastest-growing research networks under the Millennium Project in Washington DC, is proud to welcome both scholars. Their appointment reflects SAFN’s commitment to enriching its research capabilities and fostering greater international collaboration on issues critical to Southeast Asia, Asia, US-China, India-China and global security.
For more information, please visit www.southasiaforesight.org
