UNE’s International Development team to deliver prestigious fellowship training to 19 agricultural leaders from Vietnam.

19 eminent Vietnamese agricultural scientists, researchers, and managers began their journey with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research’s (ACIAR) prestigious John Dillon Fellowship (JDF) this week.  The leadership training which runs for 6 months is led by Director Dr John Gibson and Training Leader Dr. Rebecca Spence of UNE’s International Development group in the UNE School of Environmental and Rural Science.

Dr Rebecca Spence has been training lead for ACIAR capacity development programs since 2018. She and her team have designed contextually and culturally relevant training and professional development activities for the John Dillon Fellowship, the Meryl Williams Fellowship and the John Allwright Fellows Executive Leadership programs. Prior to her involvement with ACIAR, she designed and delivered capacity building training programs throughout the Asia Pacific for DFAT, the UN, and INGOs.

Dr Phil Harrell is an internationally acknowledged expert in values based leadership. His extensive experience in the Asia Pacific over the past twenty years, has included the design, development  and conduct of multiple, action learning based, leadership development programs.  Phil has also worked closely with Rebecca on the design and execution of ACIAR’s capacity building training programs. 

In addition to Dr Spence and Dr Harrell the training team include the University of New England’s Dr Felicity Joseph (Gender Studies), Dr Erika Do Amaral Valerio (Rural Development), and Dr Tamsyn Crowley (Poultry Research).

The long-standing fellowship helps enrich mid-career scientists’ leadership and management skills to breakthrough agriculture and rural development.  Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Ms. Robyn Mudie joined the scholars online for the program launch and highlighted the diversity of the JDF Vietnam 2021 cohort, which includes emerging Vietnamese agricultural leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Education and Training.

‘Agriculture has been a key part of Australia’s cooperation with Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973. The ACIAR program places capacity building of individuals and organisations to perform agricultural research effectively at the heart of our bilateral cooperation for agricultural development.’ – Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Ms Robyn Mudie.

The JDF Vietnam 2021 presents the largest and most diverse selection of Vietnamese fellows compared to previous years, as ACIAR changed the program focus to country-specific instead of global in response to COVID-19. 

ACIAR’s General Manager of Outreach and Capacity Building, Ms Eleanor Dean, said that it was critical to continue investing in human resources for agriculture development in its partner countries, despite the ongoing pandemic.

‘We are proud to be able to renovate and protect the program core simultaneously, which is strengthening leadership capacity for researchers. And we could achieve this thanks to close collaboration with our in-country partners.’ Ms Eleanor Dean, ACIAR General Manager of Outreach and Capacity Building.

The Vietnamese cohort is the second delivery of this new, country-focused approach, following the successful batch in the Philippines earlier in 2021 which was also facilitated by UNE’s International Development Team.

Chau Thi Minh Long, an experienced researcher responsible for many important international research collaborations at the Western Highland Agriculture Science Institute (WASI), is one fellow of the JDF Vietnam 2021 cohort. She is passionate about opportunities to empower women to lead and is very excited to get on her JDF journey.

‘I have long been aware that leadership practice is changing, and I need to upgrade my skills, but there are very limited professional and leadership training opportunities in Central Highlands where I live. The JDF program prioritizes collaboration and communication, gender equity and social inclusion, and project management. After this course, I believe I will be more creative and confident to lead and manage collaborative projects involving several national and international stakeholders, which will help me become an effective female leader at WASI in the near future,’ Chau Thi Minh Long, 2021 JDF Cohort.

In Vietnam, since 1993, ACIAR has supported nearly 100 alumni to gain postgraduate qualifications in Australia, including 21 JDF fellows. Many JDF alumni are now leading managers, senior experts, and researchers in Vietnam.

‘The JDF program provided me with basic knowledge in managing a research group, dealing with conflicts and challenges, defining priorities and long-term vision, which was highly beneficial for my leader position,’  Dr Nguyen Viet Hung, ILRI’s Co-leader of Animal and Human Health, a John Dillon 2014 Fellow.

This will be the 2nd cohort of the John Dillon Fellowship delivered by the International Development Group at the University of New England, visit ACIAR for more information.