Sydney Southeast Asia Centre
Research. Connections. Impact.
March 2026 Newsletter
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Welcome to the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre Newsletter
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2026 Incubator Grant recipients announced!
SSEAC is excited to announce the recipients of its 2026 Incubator Grants, selected from a competitive pool of 37 applicants. These grants, part of SSEAC’s Grand Challenges Program, are designed to support innovative projects, foster partnerships across Southeast Asia and lay the groundwork for expanded future research. Congratulations to project leads Prof Nadia Badawi, Dr Ann-Na Cho, Dr Rebecca Hamilton, Dr Jia Ying Neoh, Dr Carl Suster, A/Prof Sophie Webber and Dr Mark Wong, who together with their teams are tackling critical regional challenges. Their projects span climate finance, biodiversity, agricultural land-use change, infectious disease surveillance, neurological health and the social impacts of AI. These multidisciplinary projects aim to generate practical, locally focused solutions with global relevance. Read more.
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Meet our Grand Challenge Champions!
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SSEAC is thrilled to introduce our five Grand Challenge Champions, leading the charge on three vital themes for Southeast Asia as part of our Grand Challenge Program. - Prof Meru Sheel and Dr Raaj Kishore will drive “Healthy and resilient societies”, leveraging their expertise in infectious diseases and biostatistics to help strengthen health systems and inspire innovation.
- Prof Dan Tan and Dr Ali Khoddami are spearheading “Agricultural development and sustainable use of natural resources”, championing precision farming and sustainable food production to empower local communities and grow local economies.
- Dr Sabin Zahirovic will steer “Digital transformation and AI”, advancing open science, digital inclusion and transformative research to harness the potential of new digital technologies and AI.
These leaders are driving collaboration, fostering academic leadership and strengthening the University’s engagement with Southeast Asia.
We’re now seeking Grand Challenge Champions for two further themes: “ Climate change resilience and the clean energy transition” and “ Shared pasts and shared futures”, and a second Grand Champion for “ Digital transformation and AI”. If you're a University of Sydney academic and want to get involved and help shape Southeast Asia’s future, see the terms of reference and contact sseac@sydney.edu.au.
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Minh Le embarks on exciting secondment
We are delighted to shine a spotlight on Minh Le, our exceptional Senior Administration Officer at SSEAC, who has taken up an exciting secondment opportunity as School Executive Officer in the School of Languages and Cultures (SLC) until the end of 2026.
Minh has been an invaluable member of SSEAC, known for her professionalism, attention to detail, and remarkable ability to anticipate and support the needs of both our team and our broader community. Her calm efficiency and warm, collaborative approach have made a meaningful impact on how we operate each day.
We wish Minh all the best at SLC!
We’re recruiting to fill Minh’s position and will share an update soon.
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Call for expressions of interest: SSEAC Country Convenors
SSEAC is seeking two Country Convenors – one for Malaysia and one for the Philippines. We invite expressions of interest from University of Sydney academics with strong research profiles and established partnerships in those countries. Convenors play a key leadership role, strengthening in‑country relationships, advising on contextually relevant priorities, and supporting collaborative research and engagement activities. This is an opportunity to shape SSEAC’s country engagement, amplify local expertise and foster impactful regional collaboration. If you are connected, collaborative and committed to regional partnership, we encourage you to contact sseac@sydney.edu.au to apply or nominate a colleague.
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Awards and other opportunities
Contact SSEAC at sseac@sydney.edu.au for assistance with grant applications relating to Southeast Asia.
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Research-industry collaboration advances poultry nutrition
Congratulations to Prof Sonia Liu (Faculty of Science), who is leading a commissioned research project with Nugen Bioscience, part of CP Indonesia - a leading agribusiness company and the largest producer of poultry feed and processed chicken in Indonesia. The project will explore amino acid and energy requirements in broiler chickens, with the aim of improving the efficiency and sustainability of poultry nutrition in Indonesia and the region. The project includes a co‑training component, with CP Indonesia supporting a PhD candidate, further strengthening research‑industry collaboration between Australia and Indonesia and supporting the next generation of researchers.
Want to learn more on how chicken became a major global protein? Join Prof Liu for this fascinating in-person seminar at the Charles Perkins Centre on 29 April 2026. Register here.
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Bringing clarity to complex research
Congratulations to Prof Justin Hastings (School of Social and Political Sciences) and A/ Prof David Ubilava (School of Economics) who have been awarded the Journal of Peace Research Best Visualization Award by the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), widely regarded as a global leader in peace and conflict studies. Selected from more than 150 articles published in the journal in 2025, the jury praised the article’s visuals for making complex data accessible to a wide audience. “ Agricultural roots of social conflict in Southeast Asia” explores how seasonal harvest cycles shape patterns of unrest. The research was supported in part by a SSEAC Collaborative Grant. Using clear, carefully designed figures, the study reveals a striking pattern: in rice-growing regions, political violence increases during harvest periods, while broader social unrest declines. The findings challenge common assumptions about conflict and highlight how everyday economic rhythms continue to influence political life. Read the article. Listen to SSEAC Stories podcast.
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 | Prof Kate Curtis and Prof Julie Considine (centre back), with cohort of HIRAID® trained nurses in Thailand, July 2025.
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Transforming emergency nursing in Thailand
In busy emergency departments, nurses often lack a shared, proven way to assess and manage patients, especially in resource-limited settings. Prof Kate Curtis (Sydney Nursing School) is the founder and lead investigator of Project HIRAID®, an Australian emergency nursing framework designed to support emergency nurses to assess and manage patients after triage. The framework – covering History (including infection risk), Red flags, Assessment, Interventions, Diagnostics, Reassessment and Communication – has now expanded internationally. In July 2025, led by Prof Julie Considine (Deakin) and Prof Kate Curtis, nurses at Chiangrai Prachanukroh Emergency Department became Thailand’s first cohort trained in HIRAID®.
Implementing clinical interventions in emergency care settings is challenging, even in well-resourced settings. Through a combination of interviews, surveys and co-design workshops alongside behaviour-change strategies, this study explored the factors that influence the adaptation of HIRAID® in the Thai context. The result? An evidence-based, data-driven HIRAID® Thailand Implementation Strategy, demonstrating how multi-stakeholder engagement can drive meaningful change. Read the article.
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Women and energy: Bridging the gap in Asia–Pacific policy
Women play a crucial role in both the production and consumption of energy use across the Asia–Pacific, yet gender remains largely invisible in national energy policy, according to new research from the Sydney School of Public Health led by Dr Elizabeth Kirkwood. In a review of 385 national energy policies across the region between 2015 and 2022, they found only 16 policies explicitly reference gender, revealing a major gap at a critical moment for energy transition and climate action. National energy policies set the agenda for targets, funding and accountability. When gender considerations are integrated, countries can address inequalities, broaden participation, and speed up access to clean and modern energy. When gender is absent, policies risk reinforcing inequality and slowing progress towards clean and affordable energy.
This research highlights how energy poverty disproportionately affects women, yet these realities are rarely reflected in national policy frameworks. This research also provides a practical framework for governments, donors, and energy providers to integrate gender into energy strategies, investment plans, and accountability mechanisms that support inclusive and equitable approaches for transitioning to a sustainable energy future. Read the article.
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Building resilience and advancing climate adaptation in the Philippines
A/Prof Sandra Alday (Sydney Business School and SSEAC Deputy Director, Partnerships) visited the Philippines in January to deliver two workshops. The first workshop concluded a research project focused on increasing the resilience of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Tacloban City, which was severely impacted by Tropical Storm Haiyan in 2013 – one of the strongest and most devastating storms in history. Local government, business and community stakeholders discussed the findings on strategies to support MSMEs before, during and after storms.
The second workshop, co-led with Dr Henry Bartelet (School of Project Management, Faculty of Engineering), discussed findings on how social network structures affect climate adaptation initiatives. The project applied innovative social network mapping to Tacloban City to identify key factors on who wins and who loses in large-scale climate adaptation infrastructure. The project was led by A/Prof Michele Barnes (School of Project Management, Faculty of Engineering). Both projects were funded by the Sydney Environment Institute and supported by SSEAC regional networks.
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SSEAC is always thrilled to see our members’ research published, particularly work progressed at our writing retreats or supported through SSEAC.
- Sophie Webber and Wahyu Astuti, The urban metabolism of flood protection infrastructure in Jakarta, Indonesia, International Journal of Urban and Regional Research
- Natali Pearson et al, Interpreting shared histories through Southeast Asian maritime collections, The Great Circle (Journal of the Australian Association for Maritime History)
- Daniel Tan et al, A checklist of arthropods in Cambodian agricultural systems, General and Applied Entomology
- Sheryn See, Aaron Opdyke and Susan Banki, Navigating the overlap of climate-induced and conflict-induced displacement: Perspectives from humanitarian practitioners in the Philippines, npj Climate Action
- Nick Enfield and Philip Hirsch are contributing authors to the 1st edition of the Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Laos (Edited by Simon Creak, Holly High, Oliver Tappe)
- Michele Ford et al, Unintended consequences: The impact of policy change on Indonesia’s commercial fishing sector, Bulletin of Economic Indonesian Studies
- Sandra Alday (SSEAC Deputy Director, Partnerships) led a SSEAC submission contributing to the Southeast Asia Free Trade Agreements Modernisation Review of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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Partnering towards a cervical cancer-free Timor-Leste
SSEAC was delighted to support a landmark visit by a senior Timor-Leste Ministry of Health (MoH) delegation to the University of Sydney in February, facilitating vital connections between Timorese health leaders and the University’s Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) team, led by Prof Karen Canfell and deputy lead Prof Deborah Bateson. The three-day visit included a celebration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the MoH and the University of Sydney, represented by Vice Chancellor Mark Scott. A co-design workshop brought together senior MoH leaders from primary care, public health and the national hospital with University of Sydney researchers to strengthen Timor-Leste’s cervical cancer elimination programs across HPV vaccination, screening and treatment. SSEAC facilitated an informal network event for the delegates and participated in a multi-stakeholder roundtable discussion on long-term program sustainability, centred on national ownership, coordinated financing and equitable access to care.
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New pathways to research success: Grant workshop
The 2026 SSEAC Incubator Grants were recently redesigned to actively support the journey towards developing a research pipeline eventually leading to large grant funding. A/Prof Sandra Alday (SSEAC Deputy Director, Partnerships) held a session titled “From Idea to Impact: Crafting Competitive SSEAC Incubator Grant Application”. The information session was designed in collaboration with Prof Arunima Malik (Community Lead, Sydney Business School Sustainable Business Hub), giving participants an overview of approaches to writing different types of grant applications before focusing on tips for structuring sections of the 2026 SSEAC Incubator Grant application. Dr Abdul Razeed (Sydney Business School and SSEAC Management Committee member) and Dr Emily Nabong (Faculty of Engineering and SSEAC Philippines Country Coordinator) served as SSEAC panellists during the session.
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Politics in Action 2026
Now in its eleventh year, Politics in Action is SSEAC’s annual forum for country-specific political analysis. This year’s edition focuses on Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam – each undergoing significant political transitions with direct implications for Australia’s research, policy and people-to-people relationships in the region. Expert academic speakers will deliver concise, authoritative country updates, followed by a panel discussion on what these shifts mean collectively for Australia.
When: Thursday, 14 May 2026, 6:00–8:00pm
Where: University of Sydney
Stay tuned to the SSEAC Events page for more details coming soon.
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Holding worlds together: Epistemic diplomacy in interdisciplinary collaboration
In this SSSWARM Seminar, Prof Sonia van Wichelen will explore the practical realities of interdisciplinary collaboration in universities, focusing on how differing notions of useful knowledge shape partnerships and projects. It will reveal the everyday negotiations – termed epistemic diplomacy – are crucial for bridging gaps between disciplines and demonstrate how undervalued forms of expertise become vital in sustaining collaborative efforts. When: Thursday, 28 May 2026, 3:00pm–4:30pm
Hybrid: In person: University of Sydney, A02 Social Sciences Building, Room 441 | Zoom
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9th Human Rights Conference
The Conference on Human Rights provides a platform for academics, human rights activists and practitioners to explore current human rights issues in Southeast Asia and beyond. This year’s theme is “ Peace, security, and environmental justice in Asia: Advancing human dignity for sustainable futures”. The conference calls for a shift in perspective that security must be understood not merely as the absence of conflict, but as the condition in realising ecological, social and human justice. The Conference convenors are Dr Erna Dyah Kusumawati, Faculty of Law, Universitas Sebelas, Dr Al Khanif, Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration, University of Jember, and Prof Simon Butt, Sydney Law School. The conference will be conducted primarily in English and held in person only. When: Monday to Wednesday, 10–12 August 2026
Where: Faculty of Law, Universitas Sebelas Maret
Check the SSEAC Events page for registration details opening soon.
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Save the date: Sydney Vietnam Innovation Symposium 2026
We’re busy preparing for the Sydney Vietnam Innovation Symposium 2026, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) in September.
Jointly organised by the Sydney Vietnam Academic Network, Sydney Vietnam Institute and Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, this full-day, in person symposium will bring together researchers to share insights, develop collaborations, strengthen research skills and explore opportunities for future funding. If you’re planning a research trip to HCMC in September, we’d love to see you there. Stay tuned for more details.
Save the date: Wednesday, 9 September 2026 Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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TB isn't history – why millions still die from a curable disease
Tuberculosis (TB) affects 10 million new people every year, meaning it’s as common as it’s ever been. But it’s concentrated where people are poorest, and where social and economic conditions help the disease spread.
Ahead of World TB Day on 24 March, SSEAC Director Prof Greg Fox sat down with Prof Mark Scott, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Sydney to explore inequality, access to care and Australia’s regional responsibility in tackling TB. Prof Fox, a TB researcher working across Southeast Asia, says Australia has a responsibility to help its neighbours fight the disease. Listen here
Read how University of Sydney researchers are stepping up efforts to eliminate TB.
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New SSEAC podcast series coming soon!SSEAC is excited to share we have a new podcast series on the way, created to build on the spirit, voices and impact you’ve come to love from SSEAC Stories. We’ll be sharing what’s coming soon, and we can’t wait to bring you along for the journey. Stay tuned for updates and the official launch. In the meantime, revisit and enjoy SSEAC Stories, catch up on past episodes, and share them with colleagues and partners across the region.
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Join the conversation!
SSEAC’s socials connects with thousands of individuals and organisations engaging in Southeast Asia. Join the conversation to share your work, hear about our latest events, and be the first to know about grants, research and opportunities in Southeast Asia.
If you have a recently published article, book review, or research that you’d like to share with a Southeast Asia-focused community, let us know! Email sseac@sydney.edu.au with the details.
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