2011 Australian Alumni Awards - Winners Announced

The Australian Embassy in Hanoi and the Vietnamese Graduates from Australian Club (VGAC) hosted the 2011 Australian Alumni Awards on 11 November 2011. The ceremony honoured outstanding alumni of Australian universities and colleges who have made major contributions to Vietnam in fields such as education, arts and culture, innovation and research, business, and sustainable social development.

HE Mr Allaster Cox, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, said “the Alumni Awards celebrate the achievements of Vietnamese alumni of Australian universities and colleges and encourage them to contribute more to Vietnam’s economy and society. Their education in Australia has played a significant role in their personal and professional development. The award recipients, and so many other talented alumni, are a testament to the benefits of studying in Australia.”

Several awards were announced.

Dr Vo Tri Thanh, an Australian National University alumnus, won the Special Award for Outstanding Achievement, sponsored by Austrade. Dr Thanh is currently Vice President of the Central Institute of Economic Management, Ministry of Planning and Investment. He is regarded as one of the most influential thinkers on economic policy and development in Vietnam.

Mr Le Quy Duong, a National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) alumnus, was awarded the Australian Alumni Award for Culture, Arts and Education, sponsored by the University of New South Wales. Duong produces and directs fine arts productions that are well-known around the world. Duong’s works have helped people appreciate Vietnam’s history and culture since he returned to Vietnam in 2005. He has been a significant contributor to the Hue Festival over recent years.

Mr Nguyen Van Duyen, an alumnus from the Curtin University of Technology, was awarded the Australian Alumni Award for Sustainable Social Development, sponsored by Flinders University. Duyen is a senior expert in environmental management, and has spent many years researching the effects of climate change, especially desertification, on the livelihoods of poor communities.

Mr Tran Phu Son, a Monash University alumnus, won the Australian Alumni Award for Business Leadership, sponsored by the University of Western Sydney. He is a partner at Ernst & Young Vietnam. Mr Son is involved in training and setting up financial manuals for large domestic and international companies in many different industries in Vietnam.

Dr Do Ngoc Thuy, an alumnus from the University of Queensland, won the Australian Alumni Award for Research and Innovation, sponsored by the University of Queensland. Dr Thuy is currently Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Education and International Co-operation at the National Institute of Veterinary Research. Thuy has led or contributed to nine significant Vietnamese Government or joint Australian-Vietnam funded projects. Thuy's research has made a significant contribution to understanding and managing animal diseases and the production of safe food for Vietnamese consumers.

Ms Patricia Franklin won the Friendship Award. Through her professional and volunteer work, Ms Franklin has made a significant and sustained contribution over many years to the lives of orphans and poor children in Ho Chi Minh City.

The ceremony was attended by senior Vietnamese and Australian officials including the Ambassador, business and university representatives from Vietnam and Australia, and hundreds of Australian alumni.

Media contact:

Ms Vu Tuyet Trang
Vietnamese Graduates from Australia Club
Tel: (84-4) 37740141; Email: [email protected]