ASEAN Australia Education Dialogue (AAED) 2024
Building the ASEAN Australia Education Partnership
3 - 4 December 2024
Lao Plaza Hotel, Vientiane, Lao PDR

Jodie Atlan has over 30 years of experience in student recruitment, admissions, and marketing, holding leadership roles at Monash University and RMIT. Currently, as Associate PVC, Engagement at RMIT Vietnam, she focuses on enhancing the university’s reputation and recruitment efforts. Jodie’s extensive background includes both domestic and international recruitment, with experience in offshore campuses, contributing to her comprehensive understanding of the student lifecycle and institutional engagement.

Hossein Davari has over 18 years of experience in the university pathway sector as a teacher, coordinator, and academic manager. He has held senior roles such as Academic Director at ANU College and Director of Teaching and Learning at Taylors College. Currently, as Director of the School of English and University Pathways at RMIT Vietnam, he oversees English and pathway programs across all campuses in Vietnam, ensuring high-quality education and student support.

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Jan Drew has nearly 30 years of experience in international education, with 25 years in Asia and 18 in Malaysia. She founded The Global Student in 2011, supporting 20 Australian universities and over 400 students annually through internships, study tours, and volunteer programs. Her expertise in Australian higher education and Southeast Asian markets helps her build strong relationships and manage risk. Jan also serves on the Executive Board of the Malaysia Australia Business Council.
 

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Michael is Executive Director and Head of Educational Services at regional strategic advisory firm ASEAN Focus Group (AFG VG) and special advisor to the regional higher education peak body the ASEAN University Network. He co-founded Insearch Language Centre UTS (now UTS College), Australia’s first public-private partnership in international education. A Fellow of UTS, Michael has served on the boards of NEAS and the Australia Indonesia Business Council. He also convenes the ASEAN Australia Education Dialogue (AAED).​​

Claire is the Principal of Claire Field and Associates, specialising in VET, international education, higher education, and GenAI/EdTech. She has held senior roles in government, TAFE NSW, and Mission Australia, and was CEO of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training. A member of the PALM Advisory Group, Claire won the 2023 IEAA Excellence in Professional Commentary Award and hosts the What now? What next? podcast. She is also pursuing a PhD at Torrens University, documenting its first decade.

Adam Kilburn, CEO of NEAS Australia, brings over 30 years of experience in the English Language Teaching (ELT) sector. He has held management roles across academic, marketing, and general operations, including managing a CELTA centre and overseeing a multi-campus operation in Vietnam. With an MA in Language and Literacy and an MBA, Adam combines academic expertise with practical insights to drive business improvement and foster collaboration within the ELT industry.

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Guy Perring is the Regional Director, Asia for Etio, a consultancy enhancing the education sector. With over 25 years of experience in internationalisation and student experience optimisation, he empowers institutions to prepare students for employment and active citizenship. A former British Council leader and sought-after speaker, Guy has presented at global conferences like APAIE and QS-Apple, contributing to sustainable educational partnerships and institutional success.

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Ashley Mok is Deputy Director at Times Higher Education. He collaborates with universities globally, distilling insights from data to help drive strategic growth. Prior to joining THE, he worked at the Economic Development Board of Singapore where he developed national economic infrastructure pillars including higher education directives and labour force productivity. Ashley is a graduate of Murdoch University and has spent time abroad based in China, Hong Kong and South Korea.​​​​​

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Heather Thomas is the Deputy General Manager and Director of Global Programs at UOW College Australia, overseeing offshore partnerships for Pathway, English, and Vocational programs. Her English Language sector experience spans teaching, managing AMEP and ELICOS programs, and developing Group Programs, English Language Support, and language testing. She serves as Vice President/Secretary of the University English Centres Association and is a Life Member of NEAS. In 2020, Heather received the IEAA Excellence Award for Leadership in International Education.

Ben Khuat leads Climateworks' policy engagement in Vietnam, supporting the country's net zero targets and fostering Australia-Vietnam collaboration on decarbonisation. He also oversees projects related to Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam. With over a decade in government, he previously served as Deputy Division Head in the Ministry of Finance. Ben holds degrees from Monash University, RMIT, and Harvard's Kennedy School.

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Cara Dinneen is the Education Manager of English Language Programs and English Medium Instruction Centre at Macquarie University College, where she leads the educational design of EMI programs for countries across Asia.

Cara holds a Master of TESOL and Graduate Certificates in Educational Research and Business Educational Leadership.

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Professor David FitzPatrick is the Provost and CEO of the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Previously, he was the inaugural president of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and held senior roles at University College Dublin (UCD). He also served as the first Provost of Beijing-Dublin International College. With extensive industry experience, his research focuses on orthopaedic mechanics and medical device design, having led product development for a major US medical devices company.

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Kylie Colvin is the Chief Strategy and Operations Officer at the University of Nottingham, Malaysia. With over 20 years in higher education, she has led strategy, business planning, and transformation projects. Kylie previously served as Director of Strategic Planning at the University of Sydney and founded the Higher Education Consulting Group. She chairs the UK International Campus Alliance and sits on advisory boards for EduTech Asia and the British Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti is Executive Director of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and a Politics Lecturer at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. His research focuses on Western political thought, philosophical idealism, and political ethics. Since joining AUN in 2009, he has leveraged his expertise in public sector strategies, policy consultancy, and human resource development to advance regional cooperation among Southeast Asian universities.
 

Andrew Parker has over 35 years of experience internationally. A former PwC partner, he led the Asia Practice and Asia Pacific telecoms team. He also served as Executive GM of International Services at Australia Post and sat on the Australia Japan Business Cooperation Committee’s Executive (2015–2022). Currently, Andrew is a non-executive director with the Australia-Indonesia Centre at Monash University and China Matters, and he contributes to several advisory boards, including the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy Reference Group.​​

Dr. John Ward is an adjunct professor at Western Sydney University with a doctorate in institutional, resource, and experimental economics. He specialises in research-for-development, focusing on water policy, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem service payments. Based in Vientiane, Laos, since 2010, he has facilitated over 150 workshops in Australia, India, and Southeast Asia, addressing natural resource management and poverty alleviation through participatory processes.

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Nash Mesquita-Mendes is a Manager in PwC Australia’s M&A Strategy & Operations team and is the Co-founder and Chairman of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership. Passionate about ASEAN engagement, Nash has a vision of an interconnected, peaceful and prosperous region where the friends and youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow. He graduated valedictorian of the University of Southern Queensland and is an alumnus of the New Colombo Plan Scholarship.

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Racheline Tantular serves as CEO of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership. Racheline is a University of Western Australia valedictorian, holding a Bachelor of Philosophy and First Class Honours in Asian Studies and Music. Her dissertation on multicultural policy incorporated primary research at the National University of Singapore supported by the Fogarty and New Colombo Plan Scholarships. She has lived in Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Japan, and speaks Indonesian, Mandarin, and Japanese.

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Dr Zarifi Masri is the Deputy Director of Engagement (Strategic Partnerships) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. He oversees the university’s global affairs pertaining to universities in Europe, America, Australasia and East Asia. He is also an Assistant Professor in the Applied Physics programme at the Faculty of Science and his research expertise is renewable energy, with a focus on organic solar cells.

Dr Saiful is the Director of the Center for the Development of Academic Excellence and an Associate Professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia. He holds an M.D., MSc, and PhD in Medical Education and serves in key advisory and editorial roles, including Special Advisor to AUN and Editor in Chief of the Education in Medicine Journal. Recognized among Stanford's Top 2% Researchers, his expertise spans medical education, quality assurance, wellbeing, and psychometrics, with multiple awards for his contributions to the field.

Uri Widanarko earned her DDS from the University of Indonesia in 2000 and later completed a Master’s in Occupational Health and Safety. Her research focuses on musculoskeletal issues and occupational fatigue in industries like coal mining and manufacturing. She completed a PhD in Ergonomics from Massey University, winning an international award. Uri has published extensively, served as Head of UI's Occupational Health and Safety program, and now leads the International Office, chairing the AUN Credit Transfer System.

Ashley joined ACE in June 2012 as Principal. Ashley holds degrees in mathematics, business and linguistics as well as an International Diploma of Language Teaching Management from the University of Queensland (RSA/Cambridge ESOL). After a twenty-year career in corporate banking culminating in a position as Associate Director at Rothschild Bank, Ashley decided that ELT would be more fun. Before taking up his position with ACE in Cambodia, Ashley was Director of Studies and Admin Manager at the Access Language Centre in Sydney, and Teaching Centre Manager with AMES in Sydney.​

Dr. Ronnakorn Vaiyavuth is an Innovation Evangelist and sustainable development expert, currently serving as Deputy Executive Director in Innovation and Commercialisation at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. As a founding member of the Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation, he has led numerous incubator and accelerator programs. Previously, he was a senior consultant in energy and climate change, managing large-scale projects in both public and private sectors globally.

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Professor David FitzPatrick was appointed as Provost and CEO of University of Nottingham Malaysia. Previously, he was the inaugural President of Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and held senior roles at University College Dublin (UCD). He also served as the inaugural Provost of Beijing-Dublin International College. With extensive industry experience, he led product development for orthopaedic devices at a major US medical company. His research focuses on orthopaedic mechanics and medical device design.

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Piyapong Janmaimool is an instructor of ASEAN Institute for Health Development at the Mahidol University. With his research interests and specialization ranging from Health Public Policy Development, Environmental Health Management and Community Resilience to Climate Change and Disasters. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Piyapong Janmaimool had an extensive educational background. Aside from being an instructor and his academic or executive experiences, he is also the Associate Editor for the Journal of Public Health and Development at Mahidol University (Scopus) and for the Applied Environmental Research at Chulalongkorn University (Scopus).

Prof. Paulina Pannen Ph.D., is educator at the tertiary education, and passionate about helping people succeed in all areas of life. She has led Ed Tech programs that have expanded to include more than 30 years of experience. She is developing education journeys that are not only responsive to student needs but also innovative, flexible, and inclusive. She believes in making a difference in the lives of students.

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Asst. Prof. Dr. Thakerng Wongsirichot serves as the Vice President for Academic and International Affairs at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Thailand. He specializes in ICT, Machine Learning, and Health Informatics. His leadership significantly enhances PSU's internationalization efforts, including the initiation of the AUNDx program, which aims to foster collaboration and
innovation in digital transformation within higher education institutions across the ASEAN region.

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Master of combined studies: Master of Marketing; Master of Media and communications, Macquarie University

Graduated 2024

Mekong Australia Partnership Alumni

Alumni Innovation Grant recipient 2024

Professor Chong is the Founding Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law at Taylor’s University, Malaysia, having led Taylor’s Business School to obtain AACSB accreditation in 2023.
He has been an AUN-QA Council member since 2023 and has been involved in program assessments of several ASEAN universities.

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Ms Fiona Hoggart is the inaugural Head of the ASEAN-Australia Centre. The Centre was established to strengthen business, education, cultural and community connections between Australia, the ASEAN Member States and Timor-Leste. Ms Hoggart was Australia’s Consul General in Surabaya, Indonesia from 2022 to 2024 and is fluent in Indonesian. She has previously served overseas in Honiara and Jakarta. 

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Dr Emmanuel D Delocado is the Executive Director of AUN Network on Ecological Education and Culture (AUN-EEC), based at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is the Director of the Ateneo Institute of Sustainability, an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology, and Head of the Ateneo Biodiversity Research Laboratory.

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​​​Khamlar Phonsavat is the Senior Officer on Climate and Carbon at the Global Green Growth Institute, Laos.

She recently completed the Women in Leadership Program supported by the Australian Embassy, Laos.​

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Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed is Professor of Public Administration in the School of Government,
University Utara Malaysia. He obtained his Bachelor in Political Science from Southern Illinois University Carbondale USA, Master in Public Administration from Indiana State University and Phd in Politics and Administration from SIU Carbondale USA. He is currently Deputy Vice Chancellor of
Student Affairs and Alumni at University Utara Malaysia.

His research interests include policy analysis, governance, and administrative reform.

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Kristy Newby has 20 years’ experience practicing as a solicitor in the Lao PDR, Vietnam and Australia, 15 years being based in SE Asia. In Laos, Kristy advises private and public companies, financial institutions and investors on corporate and commercial matters, with a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions and foreign direct investment. Kristy also leads teams on the development and financing of energy projects, advising sponsors and lenders on a number of cross-border power projects.

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Marsyitah Ismail helps corporate and education partners implement innovative EdTech solutions, leveraging emerging trends and learner-centred strategies. As an advisor, mentor and speaker, she has led EdTech teams in reshaping learning experiences.

With a background in computer science and instructional technology, Marsyitah combines technical and pedagogical insights to drive impactful education outcomes.​​​

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Emily is a global scholarships, alumni engagement, and international development specialist with over 20 years of experience across the Australian tertiary education sector, the Australian Government, and the private sector. She has held senior positions within the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and is currently the Director of the Laos Australia Institute.

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Benita Sommerville is the Deputy Head of Mission and Counsellor Development of the Australian Embassy in Vientiane, Laos. Prior to her commencing her role in August 2024, Benita was Director of the Development Enabling Section in Australia’s Office of the Pacific.

Benita’s most recent overseas assignment was as First Secretary, Development in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2015-2018). She has also served in Jakarta, Indonesia (2008-2011), and accompanied her husband on his posting to Dili, Timor-Leste (2019-2022). Past assignments in Canberra include working on Australia’s engagement with the World Bank Group, internal budget and aid management and performance.

Benita is from country South Australia and holds a Bachelor of International Studies (Honours) from Flinders University majoring in Asian Studies and Indonesian language. Benita is accompanied in Laos by her husband.

Dr. Samlane PHANKHAVONG is the Deputy Secretary of the Party Executive Committee and the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Sports.

From 2020 to 2024, he was the Head of Education Quality Assurance Department, Standing Committee of the Ministry, and Chairman of the Party Inspection Committee of the Ministry of Education and Sports.

From 2017 to 2021, he served as the Head of the Party Office of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth, Secretary of the Youth Center, Party Committee of the Ministry.

From 1987 to 2017, Dr. Samlane PHANKHAVONG was an employee, Russian language teacher, youth secretary of the National University, Youth Committee of the Ministry of Education and Sports, deputy head of the organization office of the National University of Laos.