ACICIS 20th Anniversary Alumni Advisory Committee

Erin Bromfield

Erin Bromfield completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in Politics and International Studies, and Asian Studies, at Murdoch University. In 2008, Erin took a career break from state public service to join the ACICIS program for an immersion semester at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta. She firmly believes this is one of the best decisions she’s ever made. Erin now resides in Melbourne. Since her time with the ACICIS program, she has worked in various government positions including as a Senior Country Adviser (South and Southeast Asia) to the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal, and currently works in the Australian Public Service. Erin is also an alumnus of the Australia Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP) and recently completed a Masters in Islamic Studies at The University of Melbourne.

Anne Dickson

Anne Dickson completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New South Wales in 2007 and an honours degree in Indonesian Studies from the University of Sydney in 2008. As part of her degree, she spent two semesters studying in Indonesia at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta and Muhammadiyah University in Malang through the ACICIS program, in 2006/07. Anne has been employed in the public service in Canberra since 2009. In 2011/12, she took leave to participate in the former Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program, assigned to UN Women in Jakarta for 12 months.

Kirrilee Hughes

Kirrilee Hughes holds undergraduate qualifications in Asian Studies and postgraduate qualifications in Marketing and in Australian Migration Law and Practice. As part of her undergraduate studies, Kirrilee spent one year in Indonesia with ACICIS in 2001, studying at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta and Muhammadiyah University, Malang. She also holds a PhD from the Australian National University in Asian studies and is a fluent speaker of bahasa Indonesia.Kirrilee currently serves as Deputy Director – Indonesian Affairs in the International Office at UNSW Australia and is responsible for driving UNSW’s relations with Indonesia across partnership development; student recruitment and mobility; and public relations and profile. Prior to working at UNSW, she managed the Australia Indonesia Business Council and has held business development and international marketing roles at the University of Newcastle, Australia. Kirrilee also serves on the Board of Directors for AFS Intercultural Programs Australia..

Esther Sainsbury

Esther Sainsbury holds a BA Asian Studies (Specialist-Indonesian)/Hons and MA Strategic Affairs from the ANU. She is an alumnus of the 2006 ACICIS program, studying at Gadjah Mada and Muhammadiyah Universities. Esther currently serves as the Democracy and Justice Assistance Coordinator at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. Prior to her current role, she worked as a Policy and Program Manager on the Australian Government’s aid program to North Asia and as an Assistant Director with the Australian Defence Department.Esther received the 2011 Thawley Scholarship in International Security, studying Australia-Indonesia-United States relations at the Lowy Institute, Sydney, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC. Esther is also an alumnus of the 2014 Conference of Australian and Indonesian Youth (Causindy) and has presented on Australia-Indonesia bilateral relations at forums such as the Australia-Indonesia Governance Research Partnership Young Scholars Program and Asian Studies Association of Australia Biennial Conference. She is an Asia Literacy Ambassador for the Asia Education Foundation.

Lia Simmonds

Lia Simmonds graduated from Curtin University in 2000 with a double degree in Business (Marketing) and Arts (Indonesian). In 1998, Lia participated in the ACICIS program and loved every minute of it. Since graduating, Lia has worked in a variety of marketing roles within different industries, including working at the ACICIS Secretariat as a Special Projects Officer in 1999. Over the years she has also established and operated a home based business as a gift & home wares wholesaler, exclusively representing Australian designers/makers and was awarded the 2010 Subiaco Business Associations, “Best Home Based Business” Award. Lia currently work as the Projects Manager at the non-profit group, Council for International Students of Western Australia (CISWA). Lia lives in Perth with her husband and baby son.

Linda Yan

Linda Yan holds a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Indonesian) from the Australian National University with one year at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia in ACICIS’ Semester 1 and 2, 1995/96. Linda is currently the Head of Government & Education Sectors, Asia in NAB’s Global Institutional Banking division, based in Hong Kong. Prior to NAB, Linda worked for the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) for 14 years providing assistance to Australian companies in all sectors with market entry and business expansion in Asia. She served as Trade Commissioner and Consul (Commercial) to the Australian Consulate-General, Hong Kong from 2010-2014 and Trade Commissioner and First Secretary (Commercial) at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta from 2002-2005. Linda is currently undertaking her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Australian Graduate School of Management, Australian School of Business from the University of New South Wales in Hong Kong.