BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Professor & Director of the Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater; University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

Prof Nghiem is the Director of the Centre for Technology in Water & Wastewater at UTS, where he provides research leadership and vision to guide the research activities of CTWW with over 20 full time academic core members. Major research strengths of CTWW include water infrastructure, water sensitive urban design, bio-engineering and microbiology technologies, and water & waste treatment technologies. His current research work centres around the Water – Energy nexus with a focus on the development and implementation of sustainable water infrastructure in both urban and rural environment.

Prof Nghiem leads the contribution from UTS as a tier 1 Research Partner to the CRC SAAFE – Solving Antimicrobial Resistance in Agribusiness, Food and Environments. Approved by the Commonwealth Government in 2023, CRC SAAFE addresses the impacts of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) on Australia’s businesses with a focus on agriculture, food processing, environmental water, and water reuse. CRC SAAFE also deliver critical research work aligned with Australia’s National AMR Strategy.

Prof Nghiem’s work is motivated by the desire to develop, and transfer new knowledge, skills, and technologies that improve the provision of clean water and purification of wastewater in service to society. In addition to his work in Australia, Prof Nghiem has served as a Water Expert on behalf of the Australian Water Association and the Department of Foreign Affair and Trade to support the development of water infrastructure and sanitation policy in the region.

Prof Nghiem has Google h-index of over 100. He has supervised to completion 24 PhD and 11 MPhil students. Prof Nghiem currently serves as a co-Editor-in-chief of Environmental Technology & Innovation and an Editor of Journal of Membrane Science published by Elsevier.

Prof Nghiem’s contribution to research and education has been recognised by several international and industry awards. Examples include: an August-Wilhelm Scheer Visiting Professorship at the Technical University of Munich (2016); Research Award from Bio-energy Australia (2019); and Outstanding Scientist Award from the International Bio-processing Association (2022).

Professor and Program Leader of Building 4.0 CRC
Research Director of ARC Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefab Housing, University of Melbourne

Prof Tuan Ngo is the Research Program Leader-Building Transformation of the Building 4.0 CRC, a $130m initiative to transform the building industry in Australia. He also coordinated the bid to establish of the ARC Training Centre for Advanced Manufacturing of Prefabricated Housing (ARC-CAMPH), a $10m centre focusing on prefabricated buildings on off-site construction where he has worked as the Research Director.

Prof Ngo leads the Advanced Protective Technologies of Engineering Structures (APTES) Research Group which has been recognised as one of the leading centres in advanced materials & structural systems, and physical infrastructure protection in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

His group has been working closely with industry and government organisations to carry out research in these areas.

Prof Ngo has made a significant contribution to research in critical infrastructure protection, particularly in the area of safe and sustainable materials and systems. He is recognised as an expert in protective technologies for protecting critical infrastructure by many government organisations and industry.

Prof Ngo has been involved in many projects to provide risk assessment, protection solutions and low carbon technologies. These projects include design and strengthening of high-rise buildings, airports, bridges, tunnels, power stations and industrial facilities.

Prof Ngo has carried out significant research collaborations with industry and government agencies to perform large-scale experiments of prefabricated modular components of building structures (facades, wall panels and floor slab systems). The national and international research interactions have given Prof Ngo widespread recognition amongst the scientific community and industry as an expert in design and manufacturing of building components and systems using high performance materials.

Prof Ngo leads a team of researchers in Protective Armoured Systems of the Defence Material Technology Centre (DMTC). His team has developed novel material testing and characterisation techniques and a multi-scale simulation framework for modelling ultra-high strength armour materials and vehicle structural components subjected to extreme mine blasts and ballistic attacks.

Prof Ngo is the winner of the 2013 Eureka Prize for Outstanding Science in Safeguarding Australia. He received the Australia Research Award for Research Leader in Composite Materials in 2022. He also received Scopus Research Award in 2022 and the Award for Excellence in Concrete by the Concrete Institute of Australia-Vic Branch in 2017. He is the two-time winner of the University of Melbourne Excellence Award for Industry-engaged Research in 2017 and 2020.

Professor in Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering | Director of Mechatronic Engineering Program | School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University

Professor Dzung Dao is a Director of Mechatronic Engineering Program at Griffith University. He has served as Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, Griffith (2017 to 2023), and Chair of National Committee on Mechatronics, Engineers Australia (2019-2021). He has over 20 years of high-impact research experience in semiconductor physics, micro and nanotechnology, sensors and actuators, and has established himself as a leading researcher in this field. Professor Dao is ranked among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in Applied Physics (Stanford University rankings 2022), and has earned the distinction of being the top 1 researcher worldwide for publications and citations in the SciVal Topic Cluster of Pressure Sensors, Sensors.

Professor Dao has an extensive publication track record, which includes over 400 papers, books/book chapters, and 18 patents. Furthermore, he has secured research grants exceeding AU$10.5M from esteemed organizations, such as Australian Research Council (ARC), Innovative Manufacturing Corporate Research Centre (IMCRC), Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), among others.

Professor Dao’s research contributions extend beyond academia, as he has collaborated with numerous companies on R&D projects in Australia, Japan and USA, and played a pivotal role in advancing technology transfer to Vietnam. Notably, he contributed to the development of Vietnam’s first MEMS (Micro ElectroMechanical Systems) research facility in 2005 (at Hanoi University of Science and Technology), valued at US$1M and sponsored by NEDO, Japan. In 2022, he led the successful transfer of advanced sensor network technology to Saigon High-Tech Park, with a project budget of AU$800k funded by DFAT (Australia) and HoChiMinh City. These have greatly contributed to the advancement of technology and innovation in Vietnam.

Associate Professor of Australian National University (ANU), Crawford School of Public Policy

(Hoang) Long Chu is an economist specialising in quantitative analysis to facilitate policymaking and evaluate policy impact. With expertise in various areas, including international trade, green growth strategies, structural reforms, biosecurity, and sustainable development, Long brings profound knowledge to his field. His contributions have been recognised with numerous prestigious awards and honours, such as the coveted Eureka Prize in Australian science and the Prize for the Quality of Research Discovery presented by the Australasian Agricultural & Resource Economics Society. Other recognition of his work includes the 2023 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Vietnam Research Community in Australia and the 2014 Award for Outstanding Contribution to Community and Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Partnership, which were bestowed upon him by Vietnam’s Ambassador to Australia. Long has extensive experience in decision-making organisations in Vietnam and currently holds an associate professor position at the Crawford School of Public Policy, the Australian National University. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies and the convener of the Vietnam Policy & Economy Group.

Jane has nearly 30 years of professional experience in international education, a leading export industry in Australia. Currently the General Manager of TransGlobal Education and Training (TET), an international education consultancy, executive training provider and student placement specialist based in Melbourne, Australia with in-country operations in Vietnam, Jane is widely recognised as an expert in international education and a Vietnam specialist in developing and realising commercial opportunities in international education. With an extensive network and trusted position amongst clients and partners in Vietnam, Australia and 14 other countries, TET represents a comprehensive International Education Ecosystem which is ready to add value to any organisation wanting to capitalise on this highly dynamic emerging market.

Prior to founding TET, Jane held senior leadership positions with La Trobe University and Swinburne University in Australia. During her 13 years developing TET into Vietnam’s leading international education specialist, Jane has been appointed Vietnam Strategic Advisor to a number of leading universities in Australia, New Zealand and Sweden, including University of South Australia, Deakin University, Macquarie University, Griffith University, RMIT University (Australia), Lund University, and Auckland University of Technology. In the Advisor capacity, Jane and her team have been connecting universities to universities, government agencies to government agencies between Vietnam and other countries to establish Transnational Education and Government-to-Government programs. 

Furthermore, Jane has been engaged as senior advisor to support internationalisation strategy and development by Vietnam’s leading universities including VNU-HCM, IU-VNU-HCM, IS-VNU-HN.

TET, under Jane’s leadership, has facilitated training for more than 12,000 Vietnamese government officials and enterprises’ staff. The participants have been existing leaders as well as potential leaders from various ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Industry and Trade; provincial governments, and Government bodies such as Central Commissions for Mobilisation,  Central Inspection Commission, the Vietnam Youth Federation etc. 

During her 30 years of being International Education Expert, Jane has assisted with a number of important human resources development projects of Vietnam including Central Commissions’ Project 165, Ho Chi Minh City’s high quality HR Project 300-500, Vung tau 100, Mekong 1,000, Danang 150, Binh Dinh Project, ECV 1000, Quang Ninh provincial projects transforming from Coal and mining industry to service based industry. 

Jane believes in her team’s capacity to promote “connected excellence” (TET’s operating motto) and bring the world’s expertise to Vietnam and from Vietnam to other countries. Being a founding member of VASEA and  designated as a Vice President responsible for International Education, Training and Relations is another step in bringing that motto and vision to life.

Ha Nguyen is the managing partner of Advanced Partners, a tax accounting and business consultancy firm situated in Melbourne.

Ha has a wealth of expertise assisting private-sector businesses. This is in addition to her 20+ years of experience as a director and partner in several prominent tax and accounting firms, including Advanced Partners and Guests Accounting. Ha arrived at Melbourne in 1996 after being awarded a full academic scholarship by the Australian government to study at RMIT for being a highest academic achiever in the Vietnamese university entrance exam. Ha also holds a Monash University MBA and a Melbourne Law School Masters in Taxation.

Before opting to pursue a career in public practice, Ha worked for a number of ASX-listed corporations. She has substantial understanding in public practice as a tax specialist and company counsellor, as well as excellent technical abilities in management accounting and turnaround strategies and accounting technologies.

Ha’s broad and high-quality clientele have presented her with limitless opportunities for advancement. She has successfully employed her knowledge, skills, and creativity to the benefit of multiple clients, both large and small. Ha is currently a valuable advisor to several significant Vietnamese corporations who do business and invest in Australia.

Ha plans to continue her professional interactions with Australian professional bodies and institutions because she values lifelong learning. She has been actively involved with CPA Australia as Chair of the Victorian Divisional Council’s Public Practise Committee, which engages, represents, and advances the interests of members in public practise in Victoria, while regularly speaking and lecturing at Monash University. She also serves on the boards of KOTO International and the ASIF Foundation, both Australian non-profit organisations.

Ha is a founding member of VASEA and has been designated as a Vice President responsible for Policy, Trade, and Investment for the Private Sector at VASEA.

Dr. Lien Duong is a Chartered Accountant and Associate Professor at the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance (Curtin University). She has a strong research background in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), climate change, public policy and capital market research. Her research has been published in high-impact international journals and widely disseminated through numerous media outlets such as The Guardian, Australian Financial Review, The Conversation, National Nine News (TV), ABC News (TV), and ABC Radio.

In 2021, Lien received an invitation to serve as an expert witness at the Australian Parliamentary Public Hearing on an inquiry into mobile payment and digital wallet financial services. Her research findings have been cited in the 2022 Treasury Report, which was issued by the Australian Government to address the imperative need for regulating the buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) industry. The Australian Government subsequently took decisive action in May 2023 by enacting vital changes to the law, introducing more stringent regulations to BNPL firms for better consumer protection.

Lien has received funding from government and industry bodies such as Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Western Australian Government (Department of Communities), Financial Counselling Australia (Melbourne), and the Tax Justice Network (Melbourne). Her most recent projects are Australia Awards Short Courses on carbon market and energy transition for Vietnamese government officials from 14 ministries and organisations such as Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Finance and Vietnam Electricity.

Lien’s contribution to academia have been widely recognized, and she is the recipient of three esteemed awards from Curtin University: 2023 Global Award for Industry Engagement, 2022 Faculty Global Positioning Award and 2022 Faculty Research Engagement Award. Lien has two PhD students receiving the Chancellor’s Letter of Commendation upon graduation. Prior to her academic career, Lien worked in the accounting and finance industry as management accountant, tax accountant and business analyst.

Industry Expert in Aviation Safety, Security, Risk Management, Environmental Management, and Operational Excellence

Dr. Huyen Vuong has 28 years of experience spanning key roles at Qantas Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Her career has focused on human resource development, operational excellence, safety, security, risk assessment, quality assurance, and environmental management.

Currently, Dr. Vuong serves as an IATA-accredited Auditor and Assessor, specializing in IATA Operational Safety Audits (IOSA) and IATA Environmental Assessments (IEnvA). Her extensive experience includes conducting international safety audits with air operators in the Asia-Pacific region and overseeing the production and submission of final safety reports to IATA. She has contributed to the submission of approximately 400 IOSA reports and has participated in 40 IOSAs and IEnvA, working with diverse cultures and organizational values.

In addition to her auditing role, Dr. Vuong is also a highly sought-after Instructor and Consultant in various disciplines such as Safety Management System (SMS) implementation, IOSA certification and renewal audits, ISAGO (IATA Safety Audits for Ground Operations), and IEnvA. She has worked with airlines, cargo operators, and ground services providers across the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Vuong holds a bachelor’s degree from the Economics University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a master’s degree from the University of Queensland, and a PhD from La Trobe University in Melbourne. As a founding member of VASEA, her combined professional and academic expertise brings significant credibility and trust to the organization, contributing to its mission of advancing collaboration among scholars, experts, and partners.