The Australia-Vietnam Leadership Dialogue is honoured to announce the appointment of Madam Ton Nu Thi Ninh as our Patron in Vietnam.
With a career spanning academia, diplomacy and public service, Madam Ninh began as a lecturer in Paris, before serving as a diplomat for Vietnam for over two decades. She is the former Ambassador of Vietnam to the European Union, Belgium and the Netherlands. She also served as the Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Vietnamese National Assembly, and now acts as the President of the Ho Chi Minh City Peace and Development Foundation.
Through her Presidency at the Ho Chi Minh City Peace and Development Foundation, Madam Ninh is keenly focused on raising awareness on sustainable development, empowerment of women and youth, international integration, nation branding and Vietnamese diaspora.
Madam Ninh brings a wealth of international experience and has demonstrated a life-long commitment to the development of Vietnam both domestically and in the international sphere. She has consistently worked to build relations, cooperation and understanding between Vietnam and the world.
In accepting the position, Madam Ninh provided the following comments:
“Australia and Viet Nam are both nations of the Asia-Pacific, committed to their shared security, prosperity and friendship between the two peoples, enriched by the important Vietnamese Australian community.”
"We need to invest in the future and sustainability of this significant relationship by spurring and cross-connecting young leaders on both sides, including Vietnamese Australian."
"At the end of the day, it's about people, especially young people. When people meet, talk, debate, disagree and share, this is the true way to a meaningful and lasting relationship."
"Through this role, I hope to continue making one more contribution toward my life commitment to international peace and mutual understanding and to Viet Nam's and its youth's deserved place among the community of nations."
"I look forward to AVLD being an energizing space for true exchange and learning from each side's specific strengths, and for some joint innovative and creative initiatives."
AVLD Chair, Dr Melissa Jardine, welcomed Madam Ninh’s wealth of academic and diplomatic experience and expertise to the organisation, noting that her support as Co-Patron will allow AVLD to accelerate our goal of empowering young leaders and strengthening the bilateral links between Australia and Vietnam.
Madam Ninh is joining AVLD alongside our Patron in Australia, General Sir Peter Cosgrove. We are fortunate to have the support of high-status Patrons in each country.
General Sir Peter Cosgrove welcomes her appointment, stating:
“I welcome the appointment of Madam Ton Nu Thi Ninh as AVLD's Patron in Vietnam. Her extensive experience as a diplomat and educator will bring enormous benefits to AVLD's mission to strengthen the Australia-Vietnam relationship, especially through the talented young leaders in the AVLD network.”
Madam Ninh will commence with AVLD for a 2-year period.