23 February 2024

On 13 February 2024, in collaboration with Wellington Uni Professional, we hosted a networking event for the Manaaki New Zealand Scholars in the ASEAN Public Sector Leadership Programme, at Victoria University of Wellington. This four-week programme is designed for mid-level public sector leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam.

At the event, each of the scholars was invited to introduce themselves and the leadership role they were taking in their home country to other attendees who came from the ASEAN-New Zealand business, government and diplomatic communities. Especially, those mid-level leaders had a great opportunity to meet with the guest speaker,  Mitchell Pham, who also came from one of the ASEAN countries, Vietnam, and has been an outstanding business leader in New Zealand.

In his informative and inspiring speech, Mitchell Pham shared his valuable experiences and lessons learned in establishing his business in New Zealand and developing sustainable relationships with New Zealand and ASEAN business and government organisations. He unlocked the collaboration between the government, community, and industry as well as highlighted great opportunities and benefits for New Zealand to collaborate with Asia.

This cohort of mid-level leaders will be finishing this programme in a week’s time and go back to their countries, bringing with them great experiences and knowledge gained from this programme. Two more ASEAN Public Sector Leaders Cohorts this year will soon come to New Zealand, and two networking events of this kind will be held at the beginning of May and mid June.

Southeast Asia CAPE