Han Xiao Zhang works to strengthen Australia-Indonesia training ties, which he believes is among the most vital features of the nations’ bilateral relationship. Since taking on the publish of Schooling and Analysis counsellor in Jakarta in late 2021, he has been advising Australian universities and supporting their engagement with Indonesia, together with to ascertain stand-alone campuses. He has hosted high-level visits to Indonesia, spoken at coverage boards throughout the nation and met with the president of the Republic of Indonesia, in addition to the minister of training tradition analysis and know-how, to advance training cooperation between the 2 nations.

Inform me a few defining second in your profession?

Definitely, my posting to Indonesia to work within the Australian Embassy is essentially the most outstanding and life-changing journey that I’ve launched into. To maneuver away from Australia to a brand new nation, I used to be thrilled and motivated by the chance.

I knew the choice to return to Jakarta can be a defining second and have a major impact on my profession and life’s trajectory. I’ve learnt a lot in that point and I’ve been uncovered to some superb alternatives.

Inevitably, there have been some bumps within the highway, however these are progress alternatives. I recognise that to be efficient in my job, I wanted to be resilient and embrace adversity. I wanted to be versatile, be capable to rapidly recalibrate but additionally be affected person. I wanted to prioritise relationships with Indonesian and Australian stakeholders, from authorities, universities and trade.

What makes you stand up within the morning?

The morning solar. Nothing higher than getting the fantastic morning rays to correctly wake you up, even when it’s via the heavy Jakarta smog. It additionally helps that I’ve a beautiful job to go to.

For those who had a magic wand, what would you alter?

Poverty alleviation and common entry to training. Each prevalent points in Indonesia.

Greatest problem to your career?

The more and more contested geopolitical and geostrategic surroundings that we function in, and its affect on worldwide training, significantly on the subject of pupil and educational mobility, analysis collaboration and institutional autonomy.

Nonetheless, it additionally presents the largest alternative as worldwide training will be an efficient international coverage instrument. Governments ought to think about how greatest to leverage worldwide training within the context of evolving worldwide relations.

Champion/cheerleader which we must always all observe and why?

Malcolm Turnbull – former prime minister of Australia. I all the time discovered Malcolm to be articulate, well-thought out, thought of, composed and balanced – management traits that I want to emulate.