Our Team

Alexandra Smith is a Law and Asian Studies student at the Australian National University and is currently the Publications Manager for the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership.

Ankush is a Master in Public Policy candidate and Li Ka Shing Foundation scholar at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (NUS). His research interest covers the Indo-Pacific and the international relations of Southeast Asia.

Elise is a 28 year-old social entrepreneur and researcher, currently finishing her PhD on gender and international affairs at the School of Government and International Relations, Griffith University. She is also the co-founder of Social Good Outpost, a creative agency where she spends most of her time working on largescale, hands-on, atypical projects, like the Speaker Series she is currently running in ASEAN with DFAT, the ‘Youth Entrepreneurs & Leaders Speaker Series’.

Dom is a fourth year Asian Studies and Law student studying at the Australian National University, who is interested in South East Asia, particularly Myanmar, Indonesia and the Philippines. He recently spent his summer with the Association for Elections and Democracy in Jakarta as an intern conducting research on electoral reform in Indonesia.

Queenie Pearl V. Tomaro is a Political Science Instructor and Researcher at Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology. She graduated with honors from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology with a degree in Political Science and from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta – Indonesia with a Master’s degree in Governmental Studies.

Ashley is studying a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice combined Bachelor of International Relations at Flinders University. She has been actively involved in her community as the 2018-19 New Colombo Plan Alumni Ambassador and various on-campus initiatives including a ‘Be a Better Human’ campaign tackling sexual assault and harassment. Upon completing study tours in the EU and Indonesia, Ashley remains a curious learner and is excited to learn more about ASEAN.

Kevin is a Bachelor’s of Political Science graduate in International Relations from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta and currently working as a Debt Management Associate Consultant for a fintech start-up. He is a sustainable development issue enthusiast and he has been joining several SDGs-related youth communities.

I am a full-time writer and a half-time worker who interested in communication, literature and social-cultural issues. For the past 2,5 years, I pursue my career in public relations and corporate social responsibility while keep involving in some Indonesian youth and leadership communities.

I am a recent Master’s of International Affairs graduate from the Australian National University and have a keen interest on the political grievances experienced in Southeast Asia. As a Malaysian national residing in Australia, I hope that my personal experiences and expertise will serve to be of importance for the AASYP.

Tony Nguyen is currently studying in Faculty of Literature, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. His focus fields are arts and culture in general.

Visal has a BA in philosophy from Seattle Pacific University and is currently a graduate student pursuing public policy at the Techo Sen School of Government and International Relations. He has participated in numerous conferences such as Bali Student Democracy Forum, ASEAN Youth Journalism and contributed to a co written book on Cambodia and Indonesian relations.

I am an upcoming graduate, NCP alumni and Indonesia buff. I love to read, play chess and am keen to get back into traveling around Southeast Asia!

I am a 20-year-old incoming freshman at Bard College in Berlin, Germany. My biggest loves and inspirations are Edgar Allan Poe, John Updike, Christian Dior, Sohyang, and winter in Saigon.

As a Yenching Scholar at Peking University, I’m passionate about researching the intersection between ASEAN, Australia and China. I enjoy using my foreign language skills to engage in people-to-people diplomacy and to stay across current affairs.

I’m a Pacific Studies/ International Relations student in my 5th year at The Australian National University in Canberra. I’ve previously studied abroad in Indonesia, Palau and Papua New Guinea.