Anastasia Koo is the National President of AIYA, CEO of CAUSINDY, a New Colombo Plan Scholar, and advocate for sports diplomacy. As an Australian of Indonesian heritage, Anastasia contributes to Asian engagement through her professional, academic, and personal life. Most notably, Anastasia supported the ASEAN-Australia 50 Years Summit, and was recently approached by the WA government Asian Engagement team for the delivery of the WA-East Java Sister State 35-year anniversary commemorations in Perth, which included an international soccer match.

She is currently in Indonesia completing her NCP Scholarship program, consisting of classes in Indonesian at UGM, advanced language courses, and diverse internships. While in Indonesia, she has advocated for Australia-Indonesia engagement through her roles, participated in multilateral conferences, spoken on contemporary multicultural Australia, engaged in Asia-engagement roundtables, and increased cross-cultural awareness in sports. Her current internship at DBL Indonesia focuses on youth basketball development, working with Australian Olympians and international coaches.

Charlotte Carles is the UNICEF Young Ambassador for Western Australia and a third-year law student based in Perth. Charlotte was recently published in the Australian Financial Review's Top 100 Future Leaders of Australia list and won the national Social Impact Award. In 2024, Charlotte began her New Colombo Plan Scholarship program in Tahiti where she interned at the Australian Consulate-General and studied French. Charlotte then lived in Jakarta, where she co-led UNESCO's Youth as Researchers project by supporting 96 university students to contribute to policy discussions through research. The Scholarship also took Charlotte to Fiji, where she completed an international law internship at the Pacific Islands Forum. Charlotte's time at UNESCO's Regional Office in Jakarta, which represents five ASEAN countries, ignited her passion for Australia-Asia engagement. Charlotte has previously been the Indo-Pacific Fellow for Young Australians in International Affairs, and in 2024 won the John Chaney Award for her outstanding commitment to justice and collegiality. 

Growing up across Shanghai, Taiwan, and Australia instilled in Mia a deep belief that cross-cultural connection is foundational to meaningful impact. This conviction has shaped everything she has built since.

At KAIST in South Korea, she organised an Australian cohort within the KISCAP program, creating structured opportunities for peers to engage with Korean society, policy, and culture beyond the classroom. As a Westpac Scholar, Mia explored Singapore’s economy, arts, and cultural institutions, deepening her understanding of how Asian societies balance tradition with innovation.

These experiences directly informed Circula, the student engagement platform Mia co-founded, which connects university students across campus communities and cultural lines. She also led localisation product strategy at Heidi Health, adapting a clinical AI product for emerging and non-English-speaking markets.

Her work sits at the intersection of technology, community, and culture. Mia builds infrastructure that makes belonging more accessible, wherever people are.

Shanice Timotus moved from Australia to study law and business at the National University of Singapore, pick up Mandarin, and work across the region, spending the past year across Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

She is a 2026 Westpac Australia-Asia Fellow, a 2025 ASEAN Fellow of the New Colombo Plan, and a 2025 AFR Top 100 Future Leader, completing Law (Honours) and Commerce at the University of Queensland.

She represented Australia as a delegate at the Model ASEAN Meeting in Jakarta and spoke at Old Parliament House in Canberra following Australia's Foreign Minister. Previously, as Head Consulting Director, she led the University of Queensland branch of 180 Degrees Consulting, a student-led pro bono consultancy.

Minju Kang is a Master’s student in Comparative Politics at Korea University, specializing in Southeast Asian politics and regional development. Her work focuses on connecting academic research with youth empowerment and regional cooperation across ASEAN.

She previously worked at the ASEAN Foundation in Jakarta, where she contributed to ASEAN-wide development programs focused on strategic planning, youth engagement, cross-cultural collaboration, and regional partnership building. Through this experience, she became particularly interested in creating more inclusive opportunities for young people and underserved ASEAN communities.

Motivated by this work, she later established the ASEAN Youth Organization South Korea Chapter, where she serves as Partnerships Manager. She develops youth-centered initiatives that amplify Southeast Asian voices in Korea and promote intercultural dialogue.

Alongside her community engagement, Minju conducts research on political institutions and multiculturalism in Southeast Asia. She is passionate about building inclusive regional networks that empower young people to shape ASEAN’s future.

Ziyan Tejani is an award-winning law and politics student, researcher and youth leader recognised for his contributions to Asia-Australia engagement, public policy and community leadership. He was selected as a 2026 AFR Top100 Future Leader, featured on the cover of the national Graduate Guide, and has been shortlisted for major leadership awards by Asia Society Australia, Asialink and IABCA.

Ziyan’s regional engagement was shaped by his New Colombo Plan Scholarship in Singapore, where he studied at the National University of Singapore, learnt Mandarin and undertook research placements focused on Southeast and West Asia. He was subsequently appointed as an Alumni Ambassador. At Macquarie University, Ziyan supports New Colombo Plan program delivery, leading information sessions, workshops and outreach, while mentoring dozens of students pursuing life-changing opportunities to study and work across Asia.

His broader work spans Asia focused research, including on Singapore and Indonesia, multicultural policy, youth leadership and mental health advocacy. Across these areas, Ziyan is committed to building deeper, more inclusive connections between Australia and its neighbours. 

Winnie Ma a passionate advocate for STEM, particularly in advancing Women in Engineering. Through various leadership roles at The University of Queensland, Winnie has led teams to deliver large-scale academic, social, and professional events, engaging the entire engineering cohort with over 3,000 students, fostering inclusive communities and strengthening industry connections.

Winnie is also committed to outreach, volunteering to deliver engineering workshops for primary and secondary school students across Brisbane. These experiences reflect my dedication to inspiring the next generation and expanding the pipeline of diverse talent in engineering.

In addition, Winnie has a strong passion for sustainability and climate action. Winnie has participated in multiple innovation challenges, developing solutions focused on energy transition and sustainable resource use. 

Since graduating, Winnie has continued her commitment to these important causes by actively contributing through more committee participation and volunteer work.

Shysie Wang is a final-year Law and Economics student at the University of Sydney with a strong commitment to Asia-Australia engagement. Professionally, she has gained experience at HSBC Sydney as a Legal Intern and represented Australia in the UNIQLO Global Management Program in Tokyo, Japan, where she collaborated with participants from across the globe on cross-cultural business and leadership initiatives.

Alongside her professional experience, Shysie served as President of the Chinese Law Students Society, where she led the Hong Kong Law Fair, connecting over 300 students with leading international firms and strengthening pathways between Australia and Hong Kong’s legal market. Fluent in Mandarin and proficient in Japanese, she brings a multicultural perspective shaped by her upbringing between China and Australia. She is motivated to strengthen cross-border collaboration and create greater opportunities between Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Clifford is a law student passionate about the Australia-Indonesia space. He is the Immediate Past President and Senior Advisor at PPIA USYD, where he promoted Indonesian culture on and beyond campus, and supported educational and professional development for Indonesian students. During his term, Clifford founded their flagship internship programs with Indonesian government entities, creating opportunities for 20 committee members, and supervised the creation of the first and only Indonesian-student-led ball in Australia.

He is also Co-Chair and Director at the Indonesian Community of Lawyers in Australia (ICLAS), an international community focused on cross-jurisdictional knowledge-sharing and access to legal support. In this role, he negotiated a partnership with the Indonesian Consulate General to create a referral pipeline for diaspora seeking Indonesian-speaking legal assistance. 

Clifford also serves as Social Media Chair and Events Subcommittee at the Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC) NSW, an organisation focusing on trade and investments between the two countries.

Malika Knapp is a student at the Australian National University studying International Relations and Medical Science, and a 2026 New Colombo Plan (NCP) Scholar to Indonesia and PNG. Her NCP program focuses on Australia’s health diplomacy with its closest neighbours. She currently interns with CARE International in Jakarta, where she contributes to projects aimed at reducing child stunting and improving nutrition through digital health monitoring tools, while also learning Bahasa Indonesia. 

Previously, she interned with the Asia-Pacific Development, Diplomacy and Defence Dialogue and RAND Australia. Malika has received two NCP Mobility Grants to undertake development study tours in rural China and PNG. Her engagement with the region is reflected in my travels across Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, China, South Korea, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and PNG, including volunteering with NGOs in Cambodia and Nepal. She has published articles in The Mandarin, Asialink Insights, Australian Outlook, Devpolicy, Pursuit, and the Young Diplomats Society.

Nabilah is an emerging advocate engaged in both wildlife conservation and mental health destigmatisation across the Asia–Australia region. Her work in conservation focuses on supporting awareness initiatives and community engagement that promote the protection of biodiversity and sustainable environments. Separately, she is involved in student-led and community-based efforts that challenge stigma around mental health, encouraging open, supportive conversations among young people.

She has contributed to campaigns, outreach, and collaborative projects that aim to create inclusive and informed communities across diverse cultural contexts. Nabilah is motivated by a commitment to both environmental protection and the well-being of individuals, and she believes in the importance of accessible education, grassroots action, and cross-cultural dialogue in driving meaningful change across the region.

Victoria Lai is an Associate at Asialink Business, where she advises Australian businesses and governments on expanding trade and investment with Asia, combining on-the-ground regional experience with rigorous economic analysis.

Over the past two years, Victoria has delivered projects spanning tech startups in Southeast Asia, Vietnam's green economy, and China advisory. She has researched the utilisation and modernisation of the Indonesia-Australia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA), drawing on insights from over 200 industry stakeholders and expert trade negotiators.

At Vriens and Partners in Kuala Lumpur, she shaped market entry and policy strategies for firms including Google, AWS, and AstraZeneca across Southeast Asia's tech and healthcare sectors.

Victoria is motivated by her belief in the people and possibilities that connect Australia and Asia, and the conviction that stronger Asia capability builds deeper, lasting regional understanding.

Rosie Bendo’s standout achievements lie at the intersection of legal scholarship, institutional diplomacy, and deep intercultural engagement between Australia and Indonesia. 

Last year, alongside her Universitas Gadjah Mada exchange, she worked with the Centre for Southeast Asian Social Studies, examining capital formation as a project of national legitimacy, tracing the capitalist, nationalist, and institutional dynamics that have shaped and continue to shape Indonesia’s state-building trajectory.

Previously, Rosie interned with KontraS in international advocacy, supporting research and dialogue at the intersection of international law, pluralism, and democratic accountability. She continues this work at Asia Justice and Rights – a Jakarta-based international NGO working on transitional justice issues and law reform in Indonesia and beyond.

On Ngunnawal/Ngambri country, Rosie served as Lead Coordinator of the East Asia Forum Quarterly, one of Australia’s most respected Asia-Pacific-focused publications. Rosie has contributed to international legal education for Indigenous peoples through the co-design and teaching of curricula for the United Nations Indigenous Fellowship in International Law.

She supports the amplification/proliferation of diverse legal perspectives/realities through her work with the Indonesian Journal of International and Comparative Law.

Rosie embodies a new generation of Australian international engagement: serious, fluent, just, embedded, and committed to building enduring partnerships of all forms across the region.

Alexander Titus is a 2026 Westpac Australia–Asia Fellow and final-year student at the Australian National University completing a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. As an Australian Tamil, Alexander works to strengthen Australia's engagement with the Indo-Pacific across his professional, academic, and community roles. Through the Westpac Fellowship, Alexander hopes to build people-to-people connections across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

He completed his New Colombo Plan Scholarship in India, studying across Delhi and Chennai. While in India, he served as a Visiting Fellow at the Centre for a New South Asia, leading the 'Vision for a New South Asia' white paper on South Asian regional integration. At ANU, he co-founded the South Asian Research and Advocacy Hub (SARAH), producing parliamentary submissions and policy advocacy covered by the Australian Financial Review and Channel News Asia. He also represented Australia at the G20 Youth20 Summit, leading negotiations in the Shared Future: Youth in Democracy and Governance track with 25 international delegations to produce the Y20 Communiqué presented to G20 leaders.

Working as a young leader, William's goal has been to get more Australians engaged and actively learning about China. Promoting Australia-China relations to students and the wider Canberra community, he has made genuine changes with the Australian attitude towards China, organising language exchanges, official diplomatic events and career panels all designed to continue cross-cultural collaborations.