Hey, I'm Joseph, the founder of the Asia-Australia Youth Association. 

I'm also the Founder, President and Executive Director of Lantern Consulting.  

I am a 2022 Ramsay Scholar, a 2023 Mitsui Scholar, a 2025 New Colombo Plan Scholar for South Korea, a 2026 Westpac Australia-Asia Fellow and have been recognised by the Australian Financial Review as a TOP100 Future Leader.

I'm currently completing a double degree in Laws and Liberal Arts (Philosophy and Literature) at the University of Wollongong. I have studied internationally at Seoul National University and Korea University, focusing on law, history, and literature.

I've published peer-reviewed work with the East Asia Forum on topics including AI regulation, public policy, and healthcare. I am also a current member of the U.S. Embassy's Sydney Youth Advisory Council.

Connect with me here.

Global Vice President

Hey, I'm Vera.

I graduated from the Australian National University (ANU) with a Bachelor of Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce in 2025. At the ANU, I served as Team Captain for the 2024 International Business Plan Competition (IBPC)  and was IBPC's 2025 Competition Manager. I have also pursued my finance major at Singapore Management University. 

I'm the recipient of the ACT Government Office of International Engagement Prize, the Australian Defence Force Long Tan Youth Leadership Award and the BSSS Outstanding Achievement in Community Service Award. Beyond academics, I've been a volunteer at Cambodia Care Centre since the age of eight, supporting its mission to break the cycle of poverty for thousands of children through education. I am passionate about creating a lasting and meaningful impact in everything that I do.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Finance

Hey, I'm Elaine.

I am currently completing a Bachelor of Finance at the Australian National University, majoring in Capital Markets.

In addition to my studies, I have completed a Certificate IV in Government as part of the Australian Government Career Starter Program, through which I have had the opportunity to work on a range of policy and financial problems.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Internals

Hey, I’m Nicole.

I’m a Juris Doctor student at Melbourne Law School. 

Previously, I completed my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Melbourne, with a double major in Asian Studies and Politics and International Relations, including an exchange semester in Japan, and it was during this time that I developed my passion for the Asia-Pacific region.

Outside of my studies, I have worked across a range of disciplines, including law, policy, and international relations, predominantly on matters across the region.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Global Strategy

Hey, I'm An.

I'm currently pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism and Arts in International Relations and Political Science at the University of Queensland. I am also a project assistant for Global Viet Women. 

Connect with me here.

Managing Director at Lantern Consulting

Hey, I'm Krystal.

I'm currently a 2025 New Colombo Plan Scholar for Hong Kong and Singapore from Macquarie University, studying Commerce and Business Information Systems. To enrich my global perspectives, I completed an exchange at the University of British Columbia and am now studying at the University of Hong Kong. 

My passion for empowering individuals and communities is evident through my roles as Vice President of Women Entering Business, where I support the professional development of hundreds of young women, and as a Senior Consultant for 180 Degrees Consulting, providing strategic insights to non-profits. As an Executive Member at Youth Decide, I lead workshops to foster civic engagement. Previously, as an Events Director for the United Nations Association of Australia, I promoted human rights education and, as a Youth Advocate at Youth Action NSW, I drove policy changes that reflect young people's perspectives. 

Asia is a region rich with emerging opportunities. Strengthening regional ties is vital for improving social and economic outcomes, and I aim to leverage my cross-cultural identity as a Chinese-Malaysian born Australian to enhance collaboration and support professional development.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Asia Literacy

Hey, I’m Kaithlyn.

I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) and Laws at the University of Sydney, and have a deep passion for Asia-Australia cultural exchange. During an exchange at Korea University, I had the opportunity to engage directly with Korean culture and further develop my Korean language skills. I also enjoy learning other Asian languages like Mandarin and Japanese in my spare time.

At USYD, I have been actively involved in the Southeast Asian Law Society and the Japanese Cultural Society, where I help create inclusive spaces and foster cultural exchanges through professional and social events. I am driven to explore Asia’s regional issues and connect young people through dialogue, workshops, and events - sparking curiosity, inspiring meaningful engagement, and highlighting the opportunities that Asia-Australia relations can present.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Culture

Hey, I'm Kevin.

I'm a law and international relations student at the University of Sydney, where he studies as a Dalyell Scholar, MySydney Scholar, Sydney Scholar, and Vice-Chancellor’s Global Mobility Scholar. I'm a St Andrew’s College Scholar on full remission and currently serve as the New South Wales State Representative for the National Association of Australian University Colleges (NAAUC). 

A second-generation Australian born to Vietnamese immigrants, my perspective is shaped by the intersection of identity, opportunity, and global connection. My role as the Vice President of Culture at AAYA is driven by a belief that Australia’s future is inseparable from its place in the Indo-Pacific, not only economically and strategically, but culturally and socially. I am particularly interested in how institutions, diplomacy, and youth leadership can bridge divides between Asia and Australia in ways that are both meaningful and enduring.

I aspire to work at the forefront of regional engagement, contributing to a more connected, equitable, and outward-looking Australia, one that understands its identity not at the margins of Asia, but within it.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Careers

Hey, I'm Damien.

I'm currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne, double-majoring in Finance and Management.

I'm also an international student from Singapore and previously studied International Business and Entrepreneurship before making my way to Melbourne for a degree. Throughout my university years, I have served in multiple leadership roles within commerce and community-oriented student societies, holding various functions that involved people, partnerships, and executive management. I'm also currently part of AAYA's student consulting wing, Lantern Consulting, as a Development Director.

Some of my professional internship experiences include project consulting at WEHI Medical Institute's computing research division for an open-source software expansion, urban development and economics strategy consulting at Urbis, and e-commerce operations at a SEA-based start-up. When I'm not staring at numbers and financial statements or models, I like to workout at the gym, scout different genres of interesting music to add to my collection, or occasionally enjoy music festivals whenever.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Publications

Hey, I'm Tisha.

I’m a 2025 New Colombo Plan Scholar for Vanuatu and Fiji, with a particular focus on law, development and decolonisation in the South Pacific region. I’m a penultimate year Law and Economics student at the Australian National University. 

My experience across government, academia and technology consulting has spurred my interest in fostering equitable and inclusive policy outcomes, particularly in marginalised communities. I hope to uplift the voices of young academics and creatives across the Asia-Pacific and enable knowledge and culture sharing through a variety of modes. 

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Marketing

Hey, I’m Beauty.

I’m currently studying law and international relations at Curtin University, with a particular interest in diplomacy, Australia-Asia relations, and the legal and policy frameworks that shape international engagement.

Alongside my studies, I’m actively involved with the Western Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce, where I work across marketing, events and stakeholder engagement. I’ve been involved in promoting and delivering business and community initiatives, developing digital communications, and working with stakeholders across government, business and the broader community.

I’ve come to see marketing as more than simply promoting events. It can create conversations, bring different perspectives to the forefront, and connect people with the issues and opportunities shaping the communities around them.

Having grown up with connections to both Australia and Asia, the relationship between the two has always felt close to home. I enjoy being part of spaces that bring different cultures, experiences and perspectives together, and that make those connections feel a little more personal.

Connect with me here.

Vice President of Policy

Hey, I'm Ansu.

I'm pursuing a double degree in Philosophy, Politics, Economics, and Human Resource Management at the University of Western Australia. As a 2024 Westpac Asian Exchange Scholar, I gained firsthand experience of the benefits of our long-term Australia-Asia partnership during my exchange semester at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

Having lived in three Asian countries, I am passionate about embracing the region's diversity, which offers a more holistic understanding of social norms, the political landscape and the economic environment. I am excited to contribute to AAYA by ensuring the longevity of its purpose, people, and partnerships; forming connections that transcend geographic boundaries and fostering collaboration across the region.

Connect with me here.