ANZSOG has expanded its influence in the Asia-Pacific region with the delivery of a strategic leadership program to 41 emerging Vietnamese Government public servants in Hanoi.
The delivery was part of a visit to Vietnam earlier this month, led by Director Global Initiatives Dr Anneke Schmider, to build links with the Vietnamese governmental partners.
The three-day Strategic Public Sector Leadership program, delivered on behalf of the DFAT-funded Vietnam Australia Centre, and in partnership with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA).
It focused on leadership capability, evidence-informed policy development, emotional intelligence, stakeholder engagement, and institutional performance. Feedback from the participants showed a high level of engagement, strong relevance to current public sector reforms in Vietnam, and appreciation for the practical, Australian and Vietnam-focused examples.
The three-day workshop is a core component of HCMA’s nine-month Advanced Political Theory (APT) Program, which supports officials across Vietnam’s government and ministries to strengthen strategic thinking, leadership capability and policy engagement in an increasingly complex environment.
Speaking at the workshop, Ms Estrellita Boskovic, First Secretary Development, Australian Embassy in Vietnam said that: “Australia’s partnership with Vietnam is built on long-term cooperation and mutual trust, underpinned by a shared commitment to developing the human resources and leadership our region needs for the modern era. Through collaborations like this, we are working together to strengthen public institutions and respond to the evolving demands of governance.”
ANZSOG used its networks to engage speakers from Australia who were able to speak to Australia’s strengths in a way that supported Vietnamese leaders to navigate complex, multi-dimensional reform challenges.
The VAC noted that ANZSOG had brought deep expertise in public sector leadership development, providing high quality, evidence-based learning as a trusted delivery partner for this year’s workshop.
ANZSOG also met with HCMA leadership and the Academy of Public Administration and Governance (APAG) to explore opportunities to deepen our collaboration. The delegation progressed discussions on an MOU with HCMA that aims to broaden our relationship.
During the visit, ANZSOG’s Director of Global Initiatives, Dr Anneke Schmider was also invited to deliver a masterclass at the Le Hong Phong Cadre Training School, From Data to Reliable Policy Advice in Complex Systems, which was very well received by the audience.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Pham Minh Anh, Party Secretary and Principal of the Le Hong Phong Cadre Training School, said that the seminar provided valuable perspectives from international specialists from Australia, with a view to applying these insights to the practical context of Hanoi and Vietnam.
The Vietnam-Australia Centre (VAC) is a dynamic centre for training, research, and knowledge sharing between Vietnam and Australia, bringing together experts from both countries to support Vietnamese leaders in addressing domestic, regional, and global challenges.
The VAC is being delivered though the Aus4Skills Program in Vietnam by managing contractor Tetra Tech International Development on behalf of the Australian Government and in partnership with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and other Vietnamese agencies.
Vietnam is an important partner for Australia, and ANZSOG is committed to building our relationship with its government and training agencies.