The award recognises her outstanding contributions to the Vietnamese community abroad and to promoting the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and Vietnam.

Upon addressing the ceremony, Nguyen Thanh Ha, Vietnamese Consul General in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, said Associate Professor Dr Duong Thi Hong Lien is among the leading Vietnamese intellectuals in Australia. She has achieved success in research and teaching while making practical contributions to the community and bilateral cooperation.

Her efforts have helped project a positive image of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals. The Consulate General in Perth, she said, considers connecting, supporting and enhancing  the role of intellectuals and overseas Vietnamese a key priority, particularly in education and training, research and knowledge transfer between Vietnam and Western Australia.

From the Australian side, Pamela Currie, Director of the Western Australia Office at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said initiatives and projects led by Associate Professor Dr Duong Thi Hong Lien have made practical contributions to strengthening development cooperation between Australia and Vietnam, particularly in energy transition, sustainable development and capacity building. This, she said, demonstrates the effectiveness of the partnership between the two countries.

Randhir Amoganathan, President of the United Nations Association of Australia (Western Australia Division), also acknowledged Lien’s role in connecting communities and promoting shared values, describing her as a model that combines knowledge, social responsibility and a spirit of service. Her contributions, he said, benefit the Vietnamese community and help advance the values of cooperation, inclusion and sustainable development shared by Australia and Vietnam.

The Certificate of Merit recognises Dr Hong Lien’s contributions through 10 projects funded by the Australian Government since 2022 and implemented at Curtin University. These projects support Vietnam in major areas including energy transition, carbon market development, digital transformation and policy development.

A capacity-building programme for around 200 Vietnamese leaders and strategic-level officials has helped improve human resource quality and promote substantive cooperation between the two countries.

Beyond academia, Dr Hong Lien has actively contributed to the Vietnamese community in Australia. As Vice President of VASEA and Deputy Head of the Gender Equality Committee of the United Nations Association of Australia (Western Australia Division), she has helped connect expert networks, promote knowledge exchange and support activities directed towards Vietnam.

These include fundraising campaigns organised by VASEA and the Australia Social Impact Foundation (ASIF Foundation) to support people affected by natural disasters in Vietnam, raising nearly AUD190,000 (US$135,500) in 2024-2025.

Professor Vanessa Chang said Dr Hong Lien has played a key role in promoting academic cooperation between Curtin University and Vietnamese partners, and in enhancing the standing of Vietnamese scholars in Australia.

She said the Certificate of Merit is “a wonderful recognition and appreciation of Dr Hong Lien’s contributions to Vietnam, Vietnam0Australia relations and Curtin University. She is a highly influential citizen and a source of pride for Australia.”

Professor Nghiem Duc Long, President of VASEA, also highlighted Dr Hong Lien’s influence within the Vietnamese intellectual and scientific community abroad, saying she represents the association’s core values of excellence, cooperation and service.

Expressing her emotion at receiving the honour, Dr Hong Lien said the award demonstrates not only her personal efforts but also the strength of cooperation among academia, government and communities of both countries. She said she is proud to contribute to connecting the Vietnamese community abroad and promoting cooperation between Australia and Vietnam.

The ceremony honours an outstanding individual and illustrates the intellect, dedication and responsibility of overseas Vietnamese in contributing to national development and deepening Australia-Vietnam relations, particularly in education and training between Vietnam and Western Australia.

It also reflects the attention and recognition of the Party, State and representative agencies towards overseas Vietnamese, who are regarded as an inseparable part and a resource of the Vietnamese national community.

Vietnam, Western Australia deepen substantive education cooperation

Vietnam is advancing efforts to build a globally integrated education system, with partnerships with leading institutions in Western Australia seen as pivotal to this goal, according to Dang Thuy Chi, First Secretary in charge of education at the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia.