The Crawford School Alumni Dialogue in Hanoi brought together graduates from across generations, alongside partners from the Australian Embassy Hanoi and Aus4Skills, for an evening celebrating connection, shared experience, and public policy leadership.
The event opened with remarks from Ms Freya Kaine, Education and Research Counsellor at the Australian Embassy Hanoi, who welcomed alumni and reflected on the enduring ties between Crawford School and its Vietnamese graduates.
The keynote address was delivered by Professor Dr Tran Tho Dat from the National Economics University (Vietnam), who spoke about the formative role Crawford played in shaping his professional journey and approach to policy. Reflecting on his time at Crawford, he noted,
“At Crawford, our aim is not to go abroad just to see the world, but to shorten the distance between international standards.” He also highlighted the strength of the alumni community as a shared space for “networking, sharing the same academic language, and professional ethics.”
Professor Dat reflected on the deeper impact of his Crawford education, stating, “We learned not only economics, but how to ask the right questions, how to follow evidence and the ethics of working in policy. It shaped not only what we know, but how we think, and why we serve.” He emphasised the link between education and policy outcomes, noting that “education builds capacity, policy turns capacity into productivity, opportunity and better lives.”
Following the keynote, Associate Professor Hoa Nguyen moderated a panel discussion featuring Dr Vo Tri Thanh, Director of the Institute for Brand and Competitiveness Strategy (BCSI); Ms Tran Nguyen, PR and Communication Manager at Aus4Skills Vietnam; Dr Dang Duc Anh, Vice President of the Institute for Policy and Strategy, Central Commission for Policy and Strategy; Dr Truong Thi Thu Trang, Vice Director General of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; Ms Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Team Leader for the Water and Energy Sector at SNV Vietnam; and Mr Nguyen Van Thai, Executive Director of Save Vietnam’s Wildlife. The discussion reflected the diversity of sectors in which Crawford alumni are contributing and explored contemporary policy challenges facing Vietnam.
The evening concluded with warm conversations and renewed connections among alumni, highlighting the strength and diversity of the Crawford alumni network in Vietnam.
