New Colombo Plan Business Champions

  • Media release

Today I am pleased to appoint 14 New Colombo Plan Business Champions to continue strengthening connections with the private sector.

Since its launch four years ago, business engagement has been critical to ensuring New Colombo Plan students get the full benefit of living, studying and working in the dynamic Indo-Pacific region.

The Business Champions are strong, high-profile proponents of the Plan's scholarship and mobility programs. Their networks and circles of influence have contributed to amplifying the reach of the New Colombo Plan throughout the Indo-Pacific.

The new Business Champions are:

  • Ms Tania Archibald, CFO, BlueScope ANZ
  • Dr Eva Balan-Vnuk, State Director South Australia, Microsoft Australia
  • Ms Penny Burtt, Vice President Government Affairs Asia Pacific, Visa Worldwide Pte Ltd
  • Mr Grant Dooley, Executive Director Head of Asia, Hastings Fund Management
  • Sir Rod Eddington AO, Chairman Asia Pacific Advisory Council, J.P. Morgan
  • Mr Ian Kemish, Executive General Manager, Newcrest Mining
  • Mr Steve McCann, Group CEO and Managing Director, Lendlease
  • Mr Andrew Parker, Partner, Asia Practice Leader, PwC Australia
  • Mr Girish Ramachandran, President Asia Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services
  • Ms Ann Sherry, Executive Chairman, Carnival Australia
  • Ms Diane Smith-Gander, Non-Executive Director, Wesfarmers Ltd
  • Ms Shemara Wikramanayake, Head of Macquarie Asset Management
  • Ms Nicola Yeomans, Partner, Head of SE Asia Corporate, Herbert Smith Freehills
  • Ms Maggie Zhou, Managing Director Australia and New Zealand, Alibaba Group

The new Business Champions will join 18 current entrepreneurs in nurturing connections between the New Colombo Plan, the private sector and the region.

Launched in 2014, the New Colombo Plan is a signature initiative of the Coalition Government.

By the end of 2018, the program will have supported more than 30,000 students from 40 Australian universities to live, study and work across 40 locations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Media enquiries