Hosting the ACIAR Delegation and a Representative from the Australian Embassy in Laos

On March 3, 2026, the Faculty of Forest Science, National University of Laos (NUoL) was honoured to welcome the ACIAR Commissioners, a representative from the Australian Embassy in Lao PDR, and a delegation from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), on a visit to the FPIRC, NUoL.

The visiting delegation comprised:

6 ACIAR Commissioners:

Mrs Fiona Simson, Chair of the Commission, Head of Delegation

Emeritus Professor Lindsay Falvey, Member

Dr Beth Woods, Member

Mr Tony York, Member

Dr Michelle Freeman, Member

Mrs Lukina Lukin, Member

1 representative from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia:

Mr Jean Bernard Carrasco, Assistant Secretary, Climate Resilience and Finance Branch, DFAT Canberra

5 ACIAR Staff:

Dr Nick Austin, CEO of ACIAR

Dr Suzie Newman, General Manager – Partnerships, ACIAR

Ms Mali Walker, Executive Officer to the CEO

Ounheun Saiyasith, ACIAR Regional Manager

Khampheng Mounmeungxam, Assistant Country Manager for Laos

The visit was warmly received by the President of the National University of Laos, Prof. Dr Desanulath Senedeuangdet, together with the Dean of the Faculty of Forest Science, Prof. Dr Sithong Thongmanivong, and Prof. Dr Latsamy Boupha, VALTIP4 In-Country Project Manager, along with faculty leadership, the project team, lecturers, and students.

This visit was part of ongoing collaboration under the VALTIP4 project — Sustainable Expansion of Forestry and Wood Processing in Laos and Australia (ACIAR FST/2023/153) — a project implemented by the National University of Laos (NUoL), Griffith University, AUN, UoM, DPI (Australia), and the Lao Department of Forestry, together with private-sector partners in Laos and Australia. The delegation toured the Forest Product Innovation Research Centre, met with the research team, and received an overview of the VALTIP1–4 project series.

The Faculty of Forest Science extends its sincere thanks to the ACIAR Commissioners, ACIAR staff, and DFAT for the visit, and looks forward to continued collaboration that benefits the forestry and wood industries of Lao PDR and Australia.