Honoring alumni's contributions to Australia-Vietnam bilateral relations

On the evening of April 19, the Australian Embassy and the Vietnam - Australia Friendship Association jointly organized the announcement ceremony of the Australian Alumni Awards in Vietnam.

The award, presented by the Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, honours the achievements of Vietnamese alumni who have studied in Australia. This is a meaningful activity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australia-Vietnam diplomatic relations.

From over 200 nominations, 18 alumni were selected as finalists and six alumni were awarded in six categories: Alumni of the Year, Business and Innovation, Women in Leadership, Social Action, Outstanding Young Alumni, and Climate Action.

Speaking at the ceremony, Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell said: “I am delighted to interact with Australian alumni in Vietnam. They are the ones who contribute to deepening Australia’s economic , trade, investment and business diplomatic relations not only with Vietnam, but also more broadly, with the Southeast Asian region.”

Chairman of the Vietnam – Australia Friendship Association, Professor Tran Van Nhung, a member of the award judging panel, shared: “I was fortunate to read the nominations, through which I saw the great contributions in many different fields of alumni. These contributions are equally important to the development of Vietnam as well as the stability and development of the region and the world . We had a very difficult time choosing the winner.”

At the ceremony, Dr. Vo Hoang Yen, a former winner of the Women in Leadership Award, shared: “Studying in Australia has changed my life. I hope that these awards will help people see what is possible and inspire more people to study.”

Education is central to the Australia-Vietnam bilateral relationship. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1974, more than 6,500 Vietnamese students have received Australia Awards Scholarships. They are part of a community of more than 80,000 Australian alumni in Vietnam. Education helps Vietnam’s workforce develop the skills needed to grow, meet challenges and seize new opportunities. Education also helps the two countries to develop mutual understanding through students making friends, travelling and studying.

To further promote the cooperation with Australian alumni in Vietnam, 3 forums will be held for alumni to share their achievements and future plans with the public. The first forum, themed “Tapping into Resources”, will be held on 22 April 2023 at the Equatorial Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City. Details are available on the Facebook page “Australian Alumni in Vietnam”./.

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