Mechai Viravaidya received his Bachelor's in Commerce from Melbourne University, Australia in 1964. In 1974, he became the Founder and Chairman, PDA. He was also: 1979-81, Research Associate, Center for Population and Family Health, Columbia University; 1982-85, Governor, Provincial Waterworks Authority of Thailand; 1985-86, Deputy Minister of Industry; 1986-88, Cabinet Spokesman; 1987-91 and 2002-06, Senator, National Assembly; 1988-89, Visiting Scholar, Harvard Institute for International Development, 1991-92, Minister of Prime Minister's Office, Thailand. He is the recipient of several awards including: UN Gold Peace Medal (1981); 2006, Asian Hero, Times (2006); Gates Global Health Prize (2007).