Sydney Southeast Asia Centre
Fostering impactful research and trusted knowledge
partnerships in Southeast Asia
September 2025 Newsletter
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre Newsletter
| |
|  | Clockwise from top left: Keynote speaker, H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Economic Community; Grand Challenges Showcase researchers (from left), Prof Karen Canfell, Prof Budiman Minasny and Prof Daniel Tan; student volunteers Rizki Putra (back left) and Rona Putri (back right) on hand for the Q&A session; (from left) Prof Greg Fox, H.E. Satvinder Singh, Fiona Hoggart, Head of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, Prof Tiho Ancev, H.E. Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand to Australia, Prof Karen Canfell, Prof Daniel Tan, Prof Budiman Minasny, SSEAC alumna and MC Dr Natali Pearson, Dr Sandra Alday, John Hopkins, Managing Director & CEO of Export Finance Australia, and Chris Barnes, Head of Business Development and International Affairs at the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
| |
| | |
ASEAN-Australia relations: Deepening and widening ties
The 2025 ASEAN in Focus forum, co-hosted by SSEAC and the ASEAN-Australia Centre, took centre stage at the University of Sydney in September. Led by Dr Sandra Alday, SSEAC’s Deputy Director of Partnerships, this flagship event convened diplomats, researchers and business leaders to discuss the evolving ASEAN–Australia strategic partnership. Deputy Secretary-General of the ASEAN Economic Community, H.E. Satvinder Singh, delivered the keynote address, emphasising ASEAN’s economic strength, digital transformation and sustainability ambitions. Reflecting on 50 years of ASEAN–Australia relations, he identified key areas for the way forward and called for deeper engagement through education, tourism and investment. SSEAC Director Prof Greg Fox opened the forum noting ASEAN’s growing global influence and the critical role of universities in shaping its future. The Grand Challenges Showcase, chaired by Prof Tiho Ancev, Deputy Director of Research, highlighted the power of multidisciplinary collaboration in the region. This included Prof Budiman Minasny’s pioneering work on digital soil-mapping, Prof Daniel Tan’s innovations in sustainable farming technology in Cambodia, and Prof Karen Canfell’s impactful public health initiatives for women in Timor-Leste and Indonesia. The forum finished with a dynamic panel of diplomats and business leaders who explored what's next for the future of ASEAN–Australia relations. Around 500 people joined the forum in-person and online, making it one of SSEAC’s biggest events. Congratulations to everyone who contributed to making the day such a standout success! Special thanks to our MC, SSEAC alumna Dr Natali Pearson, who brought great energy and Southeast Asia experience to the event. And to SSEAC’s PhD representative Umar and the team of student volunteers – Fathia Nizami, Rona Putri, Miqdad Robbani, Fadillah Sandy, Rizki Putra and Ayendha Pangesti – for their invaluable support on the day.
| |
Contact SSEAC at sseac@sydney.edu.au for assistance with grant applications relating to Southeast Asia.
| |
More opportunities
- Bahasa Sesh Challenge 2025: As part of its 30th anniversary celebration, Acicis has launched the third edition of the Bahasa Sesh Challenge! This is your chance to showcase your favourite word(s) or phrase(s) in Bahasa Indonesia and win a free Acicis Indonesian Language Short Course session in Central Java, plus additional prizes valued at over A$3,000. Submissions close 20 October 2025.
| |
 | A/Prof Phoebe Williams (centre) and Dr Benjamin Dickson (USyd) visiting the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Vietnam
|
|
Gates grant secured for neonatal sepsis research
Congratulations to A/Prof Phoebe Williams who has received a A$626,000 grant from the Gates Foundation to expand the NeoSEAP study on neonatal sepsis in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The grant follows her presentation at the 2024 European Society of Microbiology (ESCMID) conference in Spain. The funding will support data collection at new sites in Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam as well as in-country whole genome sequencing of key pathogens to inform maternal vaccine development and build local capacity. The project aims to build data to identify targets for new vaccinations to prevent neonatal sepsis. The sequencing data will be linked with clinical data to pinpoint the most common pathogen variants associated with poor clinical outcomes in newborns with serious infections.
This opportunity also enabled the NeoSEAP team to partner with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and University College Dublin leading a second Gates Foundation-funded project in collaboration with the University of Sydney. A$3.91M CARES-1 grant will allow the NeoTREP study, a NeoSEAP substudy, to work with international partners to identify better treatment options for congenital syphilis. NeoTREP collects observational data across Southeast Asian clinical sites on the incidence and outcomes associated with congenital syphilis, a leading cause of preventable stillbirth, neonatal mortality and adverse health outcomes in resource-constrained regions, and an increasing cause of neonatal mortality in Australia.
| |
 | Water sampling for eDNA analysis at a fish farm in Thailand. From left: Dr Satid Chatchaiphan (Kasetsart University), Dr Francisca Samsing (USyd), Dr Vincenzo Costa (USyd) and Dr Saengchan Senapin (BIOTEC/Mahidol University)
|
|
Shaping the future of sustainable seafood
As seafood farming grows to meet global demand, keeping fish healthy and safe is more important than ever. Dr Vincenzo Costa from the School of Veterinary Science is leading a SSEAC-funded project in Thailand to understand how tiny microbes move through fish farms – and what that means for disease risks. As aquaculture rapidly becomes the world’s main source of seafood, and climate change impacts aquatic environments, it is increasingly vital to manage disease risks for both food security and public health. This collaborative project brings together colleagues from Veterinary Science – Dr Francisca Samsing and Professor Ruth Zadoks – and researchers from Mahidol University, Kasetsart University and Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. Together they will explore microbial dynamics and shape novel biosecurity strategies. In May, the team convened a workshop in Bangkok, strengthening international partnerships and underscoring the importance of collaborations in advancing safe and sustainable aquaculture across the region.
| |
 | DFH robot adapted in Cambodia with a locally mounted motorised sprayer and harrower, tested in field conditions as part of early co-design and student-led evaluation activities
|
|
Transforming Cambodian agriculture through technology
A groundbreaking project led by the University of Sydney is helping reshape farming in Cambodia by combining smart technology with local know-how. Funded by ACIAR, the initiative focuses on electrifying two-wheel tractors and using precision agriculture to boost productivity and sustainability. In its first year, the team worked across Kandal and Banteay Meanchey provinces, running surveys, workshops and student-led field trials. A major highlight was the arrival of the Digital Farmhand robot from Sydney. After hands-on training, Cambodian engineers successfully adapted the robot to local conditions – marking a big step in sharing knowledge and building local expertise.
In July, a workshop brought together educators from the University of Sydney and the Royal University of Agriculture to co-develop teaching materials on precision agriculture and AI, tailored to Cambodia’s needs.
| |
 | Dr Dori Patay presented her research at the UN Food Systems Summit+4 Stocktake in July
|
|
SSEAC-supported research shaping food system governance Fragmented food system governance is fuelling food insecurity, price volatility and unsustainable practices across the globe. Dr Dori Patay (School of Public Health) has been investigating best practices for whole-of-government approaches to food system governance around the world, including in Indonesia and Thailand where integrated approaches across relevant ministries offer novel models for better policy alignment. Her SSEAC-supported research aims to distil lessons from these innovations to inform global efforts towards more resilient and equitable food systems. Dr Patay was invited to present emerging research findings at the UN Food System Summit+4 Stocktake in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She shared her findings at two high-level sessions: a Science-Policy Dialogue supported by the Sustainable Agri-Food Systems Intelligence – Science-Policy Interface, and a side event on multisectoral governance backed by the EU and the Government of Cameroon. Her work reinforces the need for policy alignment and collaboration to build resilient food systems worldwide.
| |
Recent events
—news on workshops, webinars, partnerships and more
| |
Sydney Vietnam Innovation Symposium, Hanoi 2025
The Sydney Vietnam Innovation Symposium brought together researchers and policymakers from across Australia and Vietnam in Hanoi on 12 September. The event, co-hosted by SSEAC, University of Sydney Vietnam Institute, and Sydney Vietnam Academic Network, celebrated the power of collaboration to address the region’s most pressing challenges.
The day featured lively discussions on topics ranging from public health and climate resilience to agriculture and digital innovation. Prof Greg Fox opened the symposium by highlighting the importance of trusted partnerships and the real-world impact of research. Prof Thu Anh Nguyen highlighted the value of collaboration in supporting Vietnam’s development priorities. Participants explored how joint projects can improve lives, drive sustainable development, and strengthen ties between Australia and Southeast Asia. Interactive breakout sessions allowed attendees to share ideas on research funding, community engagement, and effective communication. The event also showcased successful collaborations, such as child health research and food security initiatives, demonstrating the tangible benefits of working together.
The symposium concluded with a networking reception, reinforcing a shared commitment to innovation and partnership. For anyone interested in Southeast Asia’s future, the event was a powerful reminder that progress is best achieved when nations and communities work side by side.
| |
|  | A full house at the Indonesia Research Showcase led by Indonesia Country Coordinator, A/Prof Jeffrey Neilson
| |  | PhD candidate Mitra Wulandari presents on customary adat land rights
| |
| | |
Advancing Indonesian research
SSEAC’s inaugural Indonesia Research Showcase, led by Indonesia Country Coordinator A/Prof Jeffrey Neilson, brought together 13 established and emerging researchers across disciplines to highlight collaborative research between the University of Sydney and Indonesian partners. The program was structured around three broad themes. “The Showcase was a fantastic opportunity to hear about recent research findings,,” A/Prof Neilson said. “I am always amazed and excited about the breadth of Indonesia-related research going on at the University.”
| |
 | Prof Simon Butt (far right), co-convenor of the 8th Conference on Human Rights
|
|
Protecting human rights in a changing Asia
As Asia undergoes rapid energy and tech transitions, the region faces a critical crossroads: how to ensure progress doesn’t deepen inequality or erode civil liberties. Against this backdrop, the 8th Conference on Human Rights brought together scholars, practitioners and policymakers in Surabaya to explore how human rights can be safeguarded amid sweeping change.
Co-hosted by SSEAC, the University of Sydney Law School and the Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Migration at the University of Jember, the three-day event tackled the theme “Protecting human rights in Asia amid energy transition, technological disruption and democratic regression”, sparking timely discussion on sustainable development, inclusive policy and democratic resilience.
Nearly 190 research papers were presented across several thematic streams, including business and human rights frameworks, the impact of technology on rights protection, and the tension between democracy, authoritarianism and civil society participation.
“The conference fostered meaningful cross-cultural academic exchange, bringing together international keynote speakers and a strong contingent from Indonesian universities and regional research institutions,” said conference co-convenor Prof Simon Butt of the University of Sydney Law School. “This inclusive approach created space for diverse perspectives and deepened dialogue on human rights across Asia.”
| |
Upcoming events and opportunities
| |
Disability and Faith Roundtable
SSEAC and the Centre for Disability Research and Policy are holding a thought-provoking roundtable exploring disability and faith in comparative international contexts. The roundtable includes panellists from Australia and Malaysia and is open to anyone interested in the intersection of disability and faith. When: 23 October 2025 | Light lunch & networking: 12.30pm–1.30pm (AEDT) | Roundtable event: 1.30pm–2.30pm (AEDT)
Hybrid: In person at University of Sydney, Susan Wakil Health Building, Seminar Room 304 or Online via Zoom
For catering purposes, please RSVP by Monday 13 October
| |
Call for papers: 26th ASAA Biennial Conference 2026
The Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) invites submissions under the following themes for the 26th ASAA Biennial Conference 2026: Identity, transnationalism and migration; Language, cultural exchange and representation; Geopolitics and regional cooperation; Overcoming technological divides; Climate and sustainability; Politics of rapid change; and Preservation and perseverance of heritage.
When: 29 June–2 July 2026
Where: Deakin University Waterfront Campus
Abstract deadline: 7 November 2025 | Guidelines and submit
| |
Roundtable on Australian Schools’ Engagement with Indonesia
Hosted by Asialink Education at the University of Melbourne, the Roundtable on Australian Schools’ Engagement with Indonesia aims to identify ways forward that provide all young Australians with opportunities to engage with Indonesia, with Indonesians and with the Indonesian language. The goal of the roundtable is to identify a number of strategies that can be presented to Federal and State Governments and other key stakeholders to inform policymaking, targeted funding and resource development.
When: 20 November 2025, 1:00pm–5:00pm (AEDT)
Where: Online via Zoom
Register here
| |
Workshop: Exploring the Role of AI in Criminal Justice – Lessons Learned from Practitioners in Malaysia
Around the world, artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into justice systems. In China, robot judges decide small-claim cases. Canada has developed the DoNotPay chatbot lawyer mobile app and uses robot mediators, while in Estonia, robot judges adjudicate small claims. In Malaysia, some courts have trialled AI tools to recommend sentences for offences ranging from assault to traffic violations. These developments illustrate both the opportunities and the risks of expanding AI’s role in the criminal justice arena.
Join SSEAC, the University of Sydney Business School and the School of Social and Political Sciences in this interactive workshop to explore the evolving role of technology in sentencing and decision making in the criminal justice system, and to discuss practical strategies for navigating a tech-driven society.
When: 26 November 2025, 2:00pm–4:30pm (AEDT)
Where: University of Sydney Business School, Belinda Hutchinson Building, Room 5040 Register here
| |
SSEAC is always thrilled to see our members’ research published, particularly work progressed at our writing retreats or supported through SSEAC.
- Wei Jin Wong et al. (2025), Frailty and prescriptions of secondary prevention medications in older people with diabetes and coronary heart disease—An observational study in Vietnam, Australasian Journal on Ageing.
- Warwick Anderson, Sonja van Wichelen et al. (2025), Epistemic preparedness, BMJ Global Health | Workshop funded in part by SSEAC.
- Wei Jin Wong et al. (2025), Forgetfulness to take antihypertensive medications and poor blood pressure control in older adults with Type 2 diabetes and hypertension in Vietnam, The Journal of Clinical Hypertension.
- Kate Seewald, Susan Banki and Suyheang Kry (2025), “CEDAW is Up in the Sky:” Reimagining participation in human rights advocacy through mechanism-based Feminist Participatory Action Research (FPAR), International Journal of Qualitative Methods | SSEAC-supported research.
- Michele Ford and Aim Sinpeng (2025), Beyond workplace-related issues: How Global Unions use digital activism to engage in social agenda-setting, Global Networks | SSEAC-funded research.
- Dori Patay, Anne Marie Thow et al. (2025), Whole-of-food system governance for transformative change, Nature Food.
- Congratulations also to Navneet Dhand, who was profiled in Vet Record, the official journal of the British Veterinary Association and one of the oldest veterinary journals, in circulation since 1888.
| |
Land of Famished Beings: West Papuan Theories of Hunger
Drawing on her ethnographic fieldwork in West Papua, Dr Sophie Chao’s second monograph Land of Famished Beings (Duke University Press, 2025) examines how Indigenous Marind communities understand and theorise hunger in the context of mass deforestation and industrial oil palm plantation expansion. Instead of seeing hunger as an individual, biophysical state defined purely in nutritional, quantitative, or human terms, Chao investigates how hunger traverses variably situated humans, animals, plants, institutions, infrastructures, spirits, and sorcerers. Grounded in Indigenous feminist theories, her work offers new ways of thinking about the relationship between the environment, food, and nourishment in an age of self-consuming capitalist growth. Book launch: Land of Famished Beings will be launched at Gleebooks on Friday, 10 October, 6:00pm. Register here
| |
Fortress Farming: Agrarian Transitions, Livelihoods, and Coffee Value Chains in Indonesia
Fortress Farming (Cornell University Press, 2025) explores how coffee-farming households in rural Indonesia are resisting the push toward productivity-driven agriculture, even as they interact with commodity markets and powerful downstream companies. Instead, these households tenaciously maintain access to land as a last defence against insecurity in a precarious global economy, all the while actively tapping into off-farm income sources. A/Prof Jeffrey Neilson shows how and why defensive farming strategies have emerged, and what it means for our understanding of agrarian transition in late-industrialising countries in the early 21st century.
| |
|
SSEAC Stories is the flagship Podcast of the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. It features interviews with leading experts on Southeast Asia from across the University and the region. SSEAC Stories is available on the NBN website and all the main podcasting apps: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!
| |
 | Childhood malnutrition and pneumonia in Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste has made significant progress in child survival rates in the 20+ years since independence. Further progress is needed to meet Timor-Leste’s key health objectives and Sustainable Development Goals. Prevention and treatment of pneumonia and malnutrition are essential to these efforts. In this podcast, Dr Nicholas Fancourt, Horizon Fellow and Senior Lecturer in the Sydney Medical School, discusses child health issues and outcomes in Timor-Leste with SSEAC Director Prof Greg Fox. Nick researches childhood pneumonia, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. From 2018 to 2020 he lived in Timor-Leste where he researched interactions between childhood malnutrition, immune functions and respiratory infections. | |  | Marine environment assessment in Palawan, Philippines
Dr Billy Haworth is a geographer interested in human-environment interactions, with expertise positioned at the intersection of human geography, critical GIS (geographic information systems), and international disaster studies. Billy’s work tries to better understand experiences of, and adaptation to, environmental change and disruption, and often includes highlighting inequalities, widening research participation and knowledge exchange beyond academia, involving community, government and non-government stakeholders. They are the lead author on a report on the State of the Marine Environment in Palawan, an archipelagic province of the Philippines and are in conversation with Prof Greg Fox.
| |
| | |
|
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.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
