Sydney Southeast Asia Centre
Fostering impactful research and trusted knowledge
partnerships in Southeast Asia
March 2025 Newsletter
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre Newsletter
| |
Inaugural SSEAC Grand Challenges Program launched
SSEAC is pleased to announce the launch of its Grand Challenges Program. The program aims to tackle complex problems where solutions require a wide range of disciplinary perspectives, where the University of Sydney is well positioned to make a substantial contribution and where our local partners also recognise these as important issues. The five inaugural Grand Challenges themes are:
- Climate change resilience and the clean energy transition
- Agricultural development and sustainable use of natural resources
- Healthy and resilient societies
- Digital transformation and AI
- Shared pasts and shared futures
Their projects range from exploring the role of AI in the criminal justice system in Malaysia, mapping influence across digital communication campaigns in Vietnam and examining women’s visual and literary expressions in socialist and anti-colonial movements in Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam, to investigating how inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure, climate hazards, and socioeconomic factors drive stunting in coastal informal settlements in Indonesia, to analysing the Asian Tiger mosquito microbiome to improve surveillance and strengthen biosecurity strategies for Australia and Indonesia and to evaluating real-world evidence of pneumococcal vaccines (PVC) to treat pneumonia in Timor-Leste, one of only four countries globally to introduce the new PCV Pneumosil.
| |
Contact SSEAC at sseac@sydney.edu.au for assistance with grant applications relating to Southeast Asia.
| |
More local and international opportunities
| |
 |
Associate Professor Meru Sheel
|
|
Infectious diseases researchers secure NHMRC e-Asia grants
The NHMRC e-ASIA Joint Research Program (JRP) supports international collaborative research focused on health that aims to contribute innovative interventions with broad implications in the East Asia region. Congratulations to A/Prof Meru Sheel (School of Public Health) and her team, including SSEAC member A/Prof Ying Zhang, who were awarded funding to undertake research to advance the prevention of measles in Laos and the Philippines. The project will use new approaches to surveillance and response for measles, a disease that is re-emerging as a risk in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. “Addressing measles as a priority will help with disease elimination but also help address future outbreaks of measles and other diseases,” A/Prof Sheel said.
Congratulations also to Prof Ben Marais (Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases), a coinvestigator in an NHMRC e-ASIA project led by Prof Vitali Sintchenko (School of Medical Sciences) that will explore the mechanisms and relevance of resistance against novel anti-tuberculosis drugs. The research will contribute crucial evidence to guide patient care and TB control in the Asia-Pacific region and globally.
| |
NHMRC Ideas Grants success
Applications for the 2025 round of Ideas Grants close on 7 May 2025. Read more
| |
High-performing researchers awarded NHMRC Investigator Grants
Congratulations to A/Prof Phoebe Williams (School of Public Health) and Dr Archita Mishra (School of Medical Sciences) who have been awarded NHMRC Investigator Grants to pursue innovative research and help solve some of the greatest challenges in health. They were among 24 University of Sydney recipients of this highly sought after scheme. A/Prof Williams will research neonatal microbiome and antibiotic resistance, utilising metagenomics to reduce infant morbidity and mortality across Australia and Southeast Asia. Dr Mishar will explore early-life immunity including the role of microbes in immune development from the womb to the world. Applications for Investigator Grants 2026 open in June. Read more
| |
Scholarships and student awards
| |
Crawford Fund Student Awards
Applications are invited from Australian university honours or postgraduate students interested in gaining expertise and experience in international agricultural research. The Crawford Fund Student Awards are offering up to $5,000 each for students to engage internationally with research projects in the Asia-Pacific region concerned with food and nutrition security. Students may be studying agriculture, animal production, veterinary science, fisheries, forestry, natural resource management, social science or any area broadly related to food and nutrition security. The Crawford Fund Henzell Awards are open to undergraduate students, in their second or subsequent years of study at an Australian university, interested in gaining experience of international agricultural research for their further study and careers. Applications for both programs close on Monday 12 May 2025, 5:00pm (AEST).
| |
ACICIS study abroad programs
The Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) offers study abroad programs in Indonesia for undergraduates, postgraduates and early career professionals across a number of disciplines. These include international relations, agriculture/environmental science, development, Indonesian language, communications/journalism, creative arts/design, public health, law, business and more! The programs range from two weeks to a full semester.
| |
SSEAC is always thrilled to see our members’ reserach articles published, particularly those progressed at our writing retreats or supported through SSEAC. Here are just a few.
- Susan Banki (2024), ‘Porosity on the Thailand-Myanmar border: before and after Myanmar’s 2021 coup’, Journal of Environmental Management. This work was supported by funding from a SSEAC writing residency scheme.
- Kyaw Myat Thu, Sarah Bernays and Seye Abimola (2025), ‘Learning analysis of health system resilience’, Health Policy and Planning. This paper relates to Kyaw’s PhD. He noted, “The well-structured writing retreats greatly supported my writing process and helped me focus on completing my work, resulting in this published paper.”
- Harish Kumar Tiwari, Daniel Tan, Justin Beardsley, et al. (2025), ‘Challenges and opportunities for AMR research in the ASEAN following the One Health approach’, One Health. Funding for the workshop this paper is based on was supported through SSEAC.
Other recent publications
- Natali Pearson (2024), ‘Managing shared maritime heritage: Australian warships in Timor-Leste’, Journal of Maritime Archaeology.
- Susan Banki (2024), ‘Migrant artists and migrating art from Myanmar: expanding activism’, Journal of Intercultural Studies.
- Daniel Tan, et al. (2024), ‘Food safety of fresh fruits and vegetables in the Philippines: challenges and prospects’, Food Research.
- Greg Fox, et al. (2024), ‘Levofloxacin for the prevention of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Vietnam’, The New England Journal of Medicine.
| |
|
Recent events
—news on workshops, webinars, partnerships and more
| |
|  | From left: HE Mr Chanborey Cheunboran, Ambassador of Cambodia to Australia and New Zealand; HE Mrs Nimul Cham, Minister of Commerce, Government of Cambodia; Prof Greg Fox, SSEAC Director; Alexandra Goddard, External Relations Officer, NSW State Office, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Dr Sandra Alday, Sydney Business School; A/Prof Josephine Gillespie, Faculty of Science; Prof Dan Penny, Faculty of Science; and Prof Tiho Ancev, SSEAC Deputy Director, Research Development
| |
| | |
Cambodia delegation visit fosters knowledge exchange
In February, SSEAC hosted a large delegation of high-level officials from Cambodia, led by HE Mrs Nimul Cham, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce. The meeting included HE Mr Chanborey Cheunboran, Cambodia's Ambassador to Australia, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) officials and SSEAC members, where discussions centred on knowledge exchange and research collaboration.
The Minister spoke on a broad range of topics including the country’s entrepreneurship programs for women, the importance of small landholders to food security, crop development programs, climate and drought-related challenges such as irrigation and water supply, and Cambodia’s export industry. SSEAC academics shared their research relating to agricultural development (including robotic agriculture), infectious diseases, Angkor culture and agricultural diversification. The meeting highlighted the value of in-country research and expertise in developing solutions to challenges including in the areas of health, agriculture and food security.
| |
Indonesia delegation highlights role of Australian universities in bilateral relations
On 20 March 2025, the University of Sydney welcomed a delegation of Indonesian politicians and representatives of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. SSEAC was represented at the event by A/Prof Jeff Neilson (School of Geosciences and Indonesia country coordinator for SSEAC), Prof Simon Butt (Sydney Law School) and Dr Aaron Opdyke (School of Civil Engineering). A/Prof Neilson presented the breadth of research engagement by SSEAC members with Indonesia, including food security, child malnutrition, the role of trade unions, Indonesia’s legal system and humanitarian engineering. Kate Fletcher, Second Secretary of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, chaired the discussion, highlighting the important role performed by Australian universities in supporting one of Australia’s most important bilateral diplomatic relationships. Ruby Chairani Syiffadia (an Indonesian MP from the ruling Gerindra Party) spoke of the importance of the youth, education and the creative industries to the future development of Indonesia, and the supportive role in this to be played by Australian universities.
| |
SSEAC welcomes SVAN
From 1 January 2025, the Sydney Vietnam Academic Network (SVAN) was officially embedded within SSEAC. The move from FMH Networks to SSEAC acknowledges the significant role of the SVAN across the University, and the synergies with SSEAC’s Strategy 2024–2029 including strengthening disciplinary and cross-disciplinary links across countries through country academic networks like SVAN. SSEAC will continue to engage with Vietnam – this move brings SVAN into the conversation. We look forward to working with SVAN and continuing to build the network under the SSEAC banner. If you would like to join SVAN, you can sign up here.
| |
EOIs closing soon! SSEAC Research Pitch Workshop
Want to gain insights into communicating your research clearly, concisely and confidently?
SSEAC invites expressions of interest for active audience members to join a Research Pitch Workshop, in collaboration with the Research Portfolio Pre-Award and Pipeline team and Advancement Portfolio. Come hear seven SSEAC members pitch ideas for their next research proposal and receive feedback and advice from Research Portfolio and Advancement colleagues. Up to 20 places for University of Sydney SSEAC members are available. To attend the workshop, engage in discussions and hear tips on presenting a winning research pitch, whether to potential funders, collaborators or even colleagues, register your interest by 5:00pm Tuesday 8 April 2025.
When: Tuesday 29 April 2025, 12:30–4:30pm
Where: Law Annex Seminar Room 102
| |
 | Image: From ‘Secret Strike – War on our Shores’ exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum
|
|
Seminar: Discover the fascinating world of maritime wartime heritage
When: Saturday, 24 May 2025, 4:00–5:45pm (AEST)
Where: Online via Zoom
| |
Webinar: Delve into the Cold War literary culture in Malaya
The postwar period was a transformative era for Malaya, characterised by dynamic cultural, political, and social shifts across colonial and postcolonial developments. Amid these changes, literary magazines emerged as crucial platforms for articulating aspirations, struggles, and evolving identities. Join us for this talk by Dr Ying Xin Show, Deputy Director of the ANU Malaysia Institute, where she will explore these rich yet understudied archives, demonstrating how literary magazines shaped the cultural and intellectual fabric of Sinophone Malaya from the 1940s to the 1960s. The webinar is co-presented by the China Studies Centre, the Discipline of Chinese Studies, the Australian Society for Asian Humanities and SSEAC.
When: Friday, 30 May 2025, 12–1pm (AEST)
Where: Online via Zoom
| |
11th Oceanic Conference on International Studies
The Oceanic Conference on International Studies (OCIS) brings together international studies scholars including researchers and research students from across the Oceanic region (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific) to showcase world-class research being conducted in the region and to foster scholarly networks and relationships with policy practitioners and civil society actors. This year SSEAC and the China Studies Centre are pleased to sponsor a roundtable on China–Southeast Asia relations.
When: 9–11 July 2025
Where: University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus
| |
8th Conference on Human Rights
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 “Human rights and the rule of law amid energy transition, technology disruption and democratic regression”. The Conference convenors are Dr Iman Prihandono, Dean, Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, Dr Al Khanif, Centre for Human Rights, Multiculturalism, and Migration, University of Jember, and Prof Simon Butt, Sydney University Law School. All plenary and parallel/panel sessions will be held in person. When: 12–13 August 2025
Where: Faculty of Law, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| |
Call for papers: AIWEST–DR Conference
Abstracts are invited from researchers, scholars, students and practitioners in the field of disaster risk management/disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation for the 17th Aceh International Workshop on Sustainable Disaster Recovery (AIWEST–DR). This year's theme is “Global Partnerships Toward Future Disaster Resilience”. The event is organised by University College London in collaboration with the Tsunami and Disaster Mitigation Research Center, Universitas Syiah Kuala, IRIDeS of Tohoku University, University of Sydney, Universitas Gadjah Mada and Universitas Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia. When: 20–22 August 2025
Where: University College London, Hybrid
| |
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!
| |
 | Sustainable teamwork and team leadership in Southeast Asia
The workplace is constantly facing new challenges. These challenges are also unique in the context of Southeast Asia. Effective teamwork and leadership are at the core of organisational success. Yet much remains under investigated in how best to help organisations, their teams and leaders to navigate shifts in the business environment. To discuss these issues including different types of leadership and measurements of success, Dr Natali Pearson is joined by Dr Nate Zettna, a Lecturer in Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at the University of Sydney. His research examines team effectiveness including in Thailand and the Philippines. | |  | Agricultural and resource economics in Vietnam
Agriculture is a key sector of the economies of most Southeast Asian countries, sustaining economic growth, ensuring food security and providing livelihoods to more than 400 million farmers across the region. With farmers, and smallholder farmers in particular, on the frontline of climate change, what are some of the challenges arising for the agricultural sector? Prof Tiho Ancev joins Dr Natali Pearson to discuss what the research tells us about the impact of climate on agriculture, the role of adaptation, food safety issues, and the importance of effective institutions and policies in supporting and guiding agriculture in Southeast Asia. Listen here | |
| | |
|
In the media
- Dr Yvonne Low wrote for Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions magazine on feminism and digitalism in the context of Southeast Asia.
- A/Prof Justin Neilson was quoted in an ABC News article on why Australians don’t source more coffee from the Asia-Pacific region.
- Prof Greg Fox was quoted in a University of Sydney News article on the VQUIN clinical trial in Vietnam that found an antibiotic treatment for drug-resistant TB to be safe and effective.
- Dr Sandra Alday wrote for East Asia Forum on what the ASEAN region must do to protect its global economic potential against climate risks.
- The launch of the ACIAR-funded Cambodia smart mechanisation project, which includes A/Prof Aim Sinpeng, Prof Daniel Tan and Dr Rebecca Cross, was highlighted by ACIAR’s CEO in an interview with the Khmer Times (also in video, around 6:20 mark).
- Prof Sonja van Wichelen’s project on science communication in Indonesia and planetary health was featured in FASS News.
- Dr Billy Hayworth’s joint study and co-authored report for the Philippines and Australian governments on the state of the marine environment in Palawan was featured in University of Sydney News and reported in Palawan News.
- PhD candidate Grace Muir and Dr Aaron Opdyke wrote for the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s Community Voices blog on the need for new interventions to proactively stop creating disaster risk.
- ICYMI: Development Intelligence Lab asked 150+ Southeast Asian and Australian experts their perspectives on the impact of USAID cuts and how they are playing out in the region.
| |
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, or tag us in your tweet @seacsydney.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
