News and Opportunities
Alumni success stories promote Australian education
25 Jan 2013
Austrade has produced a video to showcase some of Thailand’s most successful and prominent Australian alumni. The video tells the story of how these beneficiaries of a quality Australian education progressed in their chosen careers and other aspects of their lives.
The video can be viewed on the country page for Thailand on the Future Unlimited website.
Australian alumni represent the outcome of an Australian education. The four success stories are just some of the great examples of alumni who are now occupying important positions in Thailand and helping to shape the country’s future.
The featured alumni are:
- Mr Mechai Viravaidya — a former politician and activist in Thailand who has popularised family planning and AIDS awareness in Thailand. He established the Population and Community Development Association (PDA), one of Thailand's largest and most successful private, non-profit, development organisations. He is the current chairman of both the Mechai Viravaidya Foundation and PDA.
- Ms Visootha Lohitnavy (Nikki) — one of many international students who chose Australia as a destination for wine education. Nikki graduated with a Bachelor of Oenology (Viticulture and Winemaking) and Second Class Honours in Viticulture from an Australian university. One of the first female winemakers in Thailand, Nikki is currently working as the operations director at her family’s GranMonte Estate, Thailand.
- Mr Wittawat Soonthornvinate — Managing Director of Twenty Twenty Entertainment Co. Ltd. A well-known former TV Anchor and the current host of the famous Tee Sib variety TV program in Thailand.
- Dr Thon Thumrongnawasawas — an environmentalist and former advisor to the Minister of Education and several environmental foundations. He is currently the Head of Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Fisheries at Kasetsart University.
The alumni are a great source of pride as ambassadors of quality Australian education.
The Austrade Bangkok Education Team has presented the video on numerous occasions in the past few months to local stakeholders. The presentations have generated significant interest from audiences, including students, parents, agents and the general public.
Australian education providers who would like to explore and discuss their alumni engagement plan in Thailand can contact Ms Busarin Sinthunavarat, Education Manager, Austrade Bangkok.
More opportunities and updates from the Thailand market are available from the Thailand country page.