SWEA Bangkok has formally closed after 25 years of activity in Thailand.
The chapter held its final Annual General Meeting on Monday 23 February 2026 at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok, marking the end of a long-standing network for Swedish women in the Kingdom.
Despite efforts to recruit new leadership, it proved impossible to form a new board to continue the organisation’s work.
A temporary board consisting of President Hayoung Ekhaga, Secretary Louise Lundberg and Treasurer Susanne Andren has been appointed to oversee the formal winding-up process during 2026.
“It is with very mixed emotions that I write this,” Agneta de Bekassy reports from the evening.
“For 25 years, SWEA Bangkok was an active and popular non-profit organization, but sadly she did not grow older than that. Despite persistent efforts, it proved impossible to form a new board to carry the organization forward.”
“Yesterday, twenty members gathered at the Swedish embassy. To lift the spirits, we began with a glass of well-chilled Prosecco, followed by a light dinner featuring Swedish flavors: hot smoked salmon served with fresh potatoes salad, a mixed salad and baguettes. Mammas Kök (Mom’s Kitchen) which has been popular for many years, prepared the magnificent salads and generously donated a delightful, classic Princess Cake, and the salmon came from Thammachart.”
“After dinner, we had the pleasure to listening to Michaela Friberg Storey, who humorously shared the story of her career and how it all began. Michaela is the UN Resident Coordinator (UN RC) in Thailand and is responsible for everything the United Nations does in Thailand.”
“On several occasions, Michaela emphasized how important it is for women around the world to support and encourage one another.
“After her engaging and insightful talk, a small gift was presented to Michaela as a token of our appreciation, and she hurried off home-or perhaps on to another engagement.”
“We then moved to a meeting room, where our President Hayoung Ekhaga, opened the Annual General Meeting, which proceeded smoothly and without complications. A board consisting of current President Hayoung, the current secretary Louise Lundberg, and the current treasurer Susanne Andren, was entrusted with overseeing the administration and the formal winding up of our chapter during 2026.
“At the subsequent member’s meeting, it was decided how the remaining funds in our treasury would be allocated, apart from the portion that will be returned to SWEA International. This contribution is intended to cover travel expenses for members of the International Board to attend World Meetings, to provide financial support to chapters with limited resources and to reserve a smaller amount, should Bangkok decide to re-establish a chapter in the future.”
“A few proposals were presented regarding how the remainder of our capital should be distributed, and it was ultimately agreed that the “Svenska Skolorganisationen Bangkok” (The Swedish School Organization Bangkok) was a truly deserving recipient.”
“Finally, before we all dispersed, we held an exciting raffle. We had received so many incredible prizes that were originally meant to be drawn at SWEA Bangkok’s 25th anniversary celebration, which unfortunately had to be cancelled due to too few participants. With the sponsor’s kind permission, we were able to use those prizes for the raffle at the Annual Meeting.”
“The top prizes were a stay at Saii Laguna Phuket, a stay at Cape Shark Villas, Koh Tao, a stay at the Legend Chiang Rai hotel and a day pass including lunch at Chatrium Grand Bangkok, vouchers from Hotel Rembrandt for restaurant Mexicana, vouchers from Bartels, just to mention a few.”
“Happy receiver of Saii Laguna Phuket was Trille Normark, Cape Shark Villas, Luz Baastrup and The Legend Chiang Rai, went to Helene Thorfinn. All very happy receivers.”
“For me it was an emotional evening. Having been a SWEA since 1988, it felt so sad to realize that Bangkok from now on has no SWEA Chapter, but we all agreed on keeping in touch with each other, organize After Work’s, and coffee meetings etc. in the future.”
“Everything comes to an end. Times have changed. Those of us who have lived here for a long time have created our own circles of friends. New families with young children often struggle to find the time, and the same goes for women working full time.”
“But who knows-perhaps one day SWEA Bangkok will be reborn!”
[…] die Aktivitäten der SWEA Bangkok und die globale Organisation sind auf ihrer Webseite zu finden: scandasia.com sowie auf der offiziellen SWEA-Seite: bangkok.swea.org. Für tiefere Einblicke in die Geschichte […]