Talking Points
More than 200 guests from the South Australian business community, government and the education sector attended The Smart Solution for SA: International Education forum at Adelaide Oval. The forum was hosted on 6 December 2022 in the Ian McLachlan Room.
With a keynote by Danielle Wood, CE Gratton Institute, and a presentation by Adam Reid, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science the forum was thought-provoking and insightful, creating advocates of the audience and leaving no doubt that a robust international education sector will transform the state.
More than 200 guests from the South Australian business community, government and the education sector attended The Smart Solution for SA: International Education forum at Adelaide Oval. The forum was hosted on 6 December 2022 in the Ian McLachlan Room.
With a keynote by Danielle Wood, CE Gratton Institute, and a presentation by Adam Reid, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science the forum was thought-provoking and insightful, creating advocates of the audience and leaving no doubt that a robust international education sector will transform the state.
Danielle’s presentation focused on three core areas with key take-outs including:
International student graduates provide a strong source of highly-skilled workers to address skills shortages. They also provide diversity of ideas, support greater innovation and help drive productivity growth.
Local insights from Adam Reid, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science showed a clear alignment between courses being studied by international students and skills/occupations in demand in South Australia.
Adam highlighted the size of the economic contribution made to the state by international students, noting that pre-COVID the sector was worth a combined $3.77 billion to the State’s economy through education fees, living expenses, and spending by international students and their friends and family.
Danielle joined the interesting, and sometimes entertaining panel discussion with StudyAdelaide’s Chief Executive Jane Johnston, Deloitte’s Hendri Mentz, Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland CEO Ben Fee and inspiring international graduate and entrepreneur Germin Chan. Learnings from the panel discussion included:
StudyAdelaide Chair Sean Keenihan closed the forum charging all present to:
Right now, we have a golden opportunity to create a more skilled, prosperous, and globally connected South Australia.
International education can transform our state by:
Join business leaders, government, and the education sector from across the State to explore how we can collaborate to grow our international education sector, maximise the benefits for every South Australian, and create a greater State.
Danielle’s presentation focused on three core areas with key take-outs including:
International student graduates provide a strong source of highly-skilled workers to address skills shortages. They also provide diversity of ideas, support greater innovation and help drive productivity growth.
Local insights from Adam Reid, Department for Industry, Innovation and Science showed a clear alignment between courses being studied by international students and skills/occupations in demand in South Australia.
Adam highlighted the size of the economic contribution made to the state by international students, noting that pre-COVID the sector was worth a combined $3.77 billion to the State’s economy through education fees, living expenses, and spending by international students and their friends and family.
Danielle joined the interesting, and sometimes entertaining panel discussion with StudyAdelaide’s Chief Executive Jane Johnston, Deloitte’s Hendri Mentz, Regional Development Australia Murraylands and Riverland CEO Ben Fee and inspiring international graduate and entrepreneur Germin Chan. Learnings from the panel discussion included:
StudyAdelaide Chair Sean Keenihan closed the forum charging all present to:
Right now, we have a golden opportunity to create a more skilled, prosperous, and globally connected South Australia.
International education can transform our state by:
Join business leaders, government, and the education sector from across the State to explore how we can collaborate to grow our international education sector, maximise the benefits for every South Australian, and create a greater State.
Bachelor of Childhood Education at University South Australia (UniSA). She has held a passion for teaching since she was five years old, and has been studying in Adelaide since she was 15 years old.
When Australia's borders were shut, Cindi was stuck in China had to continue her studies online.
Cindi was determined to maintain the connection with her 'Aussie Mum' and Adelaide, and was instrumental in helping other Chinese students to build similar connections with her adopted home in Adelaide.
Marissa came to Adelaide from India in 2018 to study a Master of Clinical Psychology at The University of Adelaide.
She was fortunate enough to have offers from three universities in Australia, and chose Adelaide.
She now works in child psychology supporting children and young adults as well as those that have a disability. She not only works with the children, but also the people around them to help them understand their needs and support requirements.
The impact of COVID has led to an increase in demand for psychology services, and Marissa has been helping families during particularly difficult circumstances when there are a shortage of psychologists in South Australia.
This is her story.
Elvis came to Australia to study a Master of Biomedical Engineering at Flinders University. He is a fully qualified doctor in Nigeria, where the health system is not as developed as the one in Australia. The people in Nigeria may not be able to afford health care, are sick and are not able to take care of themselves.
As part of his thesis, he has designed a cheap and automated device for Malaria detection. The device will allow practitioners to go to rural parts of Nigeria, and make real and accurate diagnosis of Malaria, enabling treatment where the disease is a big problem.
During COVID, Elvis also committed his time as a disability support worker, helping one patient in particular and becoming a very good part of their life.
Elvis was also the 2022 StudyAdelaide International Student of the Year.
Danielle Wood is the CEO of Grattan Institute, where she heads a team of leading policy thinkers, researching and advocating policy to improve the lives of Australians.
She was previously Principal Economist and Director of Merger Investigations at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Senior Economist at NERA Economic Consulting, and Senior Research Economist at the Productivity Commission. Danielle is also the former President of the Economic Society of Australia.
Danielle has published extensively on economic reform priorities, budgets, tax reform, generational inequality, and reforming political institutions. She is a sought-after media commentator and speaker on policy issues.
Earlier this year, Danielle made a highly-acclaimed keynote address at the Federal Government’s Jobs Summit where she urged Australia’s leaders to forge a plan for full employment and higher productivity and reforming the skilled migration system.
Adam brings over 20 years of experience within the South Australian public sector in industry, science and innovation policy and program delivery.
Through his department, he is responsible for supporting sustainable economic growth through research and innovation, growing innovative and competitive industries and businesses, manufacturing capability, workforce development and skilled and business migration.
Adam is committed to building on South Australia’s existing strengths to support more businesses to grow while driving new opportunities for long-term productivity and prosperity.
Danielle Wood is the CEO of Grattan Institute, where she heads a team of leading policy thinkers, researching and advocating policy to improve the lives of Australians.
She was previously Principal Economist and Director of Merger Investigations at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Senior Economist at NERA Economic Consulting, and Senior Research Economist at the Productivity Commission. Danielle is also the former President of the Economic Society of Australia.
Danielle has published extensively on economic reform priorities, budgets, tax reform, generational inequality, and reforming political institutions. She is a sought-after media commentator and speaker on policy issues.
Earlier this year, Danielle made a highly-acclaimed keynote address at the Federal Government’s Jobs Summit where she urged Australia’s leaders to forge a plan for full employment and higher productivity and reforming the skilled migration system.
Adam brings over 20 years of experience within the South Australian public sector in industry, science and innovation policy and program delivery.
Through his department, he is responsible for supporting sustainable economic growth through research and innovation, growing innovative and competitive industries and businesses, manufacturing capability, workforce development and skilled and business migration.
Adam is committed to building on South Australia’s existing strengths to support more businesses to grow while driving new opportunities for long-term productivity and prosperity.
Jessica is a presenter, facilitator and one of South Australia’s most sought-after MC’s. She forged a reputation as one of the state’s finest journalists after 24 years in television news.
The keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion with key South Australian business and education leaders.
Members of the panel will be announced shortly.
Jane’s career in international education and marketing includes senior roles with the University of Adelaide and StudyAdelaide, where she commenced as Chief Executive at the start of the year.
StudyAdelaide’s role is to increase awareness of Adelaide as a study destination and deliver programs to ensure international students have a rewarding experience in Adelaide. This includes connecting students into the community and workplaces.
Jane has overseen the creation of Job Shop and expansion of Employer Portal – both Australian firsts – and developed nationally award-winning marketing campaigns. Her passion for the industry stems from understanding the transformational impact of international education firsthand from her own time studying in Canada.
Jessica is a presenter, facilitator and one of South Australia’s most sought-after MC’s. She forged a reputation as one of the state’s finest journalists after 24 years in television news.
The keynote address will be followed by a panel discussion with key South Australian business and education leaders.
Members of the panel will be announced shortly.
Jane’s career in international education and marketing includes senior roles with the University of Adelaide and StudyAdelaide, where she commenced as Chief Executive at the start of the year.
StudyAdelaide’s role is to increase awareness of Adelaide as a study destination and deliver programs to ensure international students have a rewarding experience in Adelaide. This includes connecting students into the community and workplaces.
Jane has overseen the creation of Job Shop and expansion of Employer Portal – both Australian firsts – and developed nationally award-winning marketing campaigns. Her passion for the industry stems from understanding the transformational impact of international education firsthand from her own time studying in Canada.
Hendri is the Deloitte South Australia Managing Partner with more than 25 years’ experience specialising in risk and control transformation, combined assurance, enterprise risk management and business consulting services for complex organisations.
His experience includes large transformation projects, leading internal and external audit teams and business advisory services for clients in mining, oil & gas, power and water and the public sector.
Previous roles include Deloitte Risk Advisory lead partner for the energy and resources industry and Managing Partner Northern Territory.
Ben leads an organisation committed to the Murraylands and Riverland being recognised internationally as a vibrant, world leading circular economy with high-performing businesses, and resilient communities and individuals.
His experience in regional development includes managing the $265 million South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program (SARMS) with the regional economic development component of SARMS winning the 2017 IPAA Prime Minister’s Gold Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management.
Hendri is the Deloitte South Australia Managing Partner with more than 25 years’ experience specialising in risk and control transformation, combined assurance, enterprise risk management and business consulting services for complex organisations.
His experience includes large transformation projects, leading internal and external audit teams and business advisory services for clients in mining, oil & gas, power and water and the public sector.
Previous roles include Deloitte Risk Advisory lead partner for the energy and resources industry and Managing Partner Northern Territory.
Ben leads an organisation committed to the Murraylands and Riverland being recognised internationally as a vibrant, world leading circular economy with high-performing businesses, and resilient communities and individuals.
His experience in regional development includes managing the $265 million South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program (SARMS) with the regional economic development component of SARMS winning the 2017 IPAA Prime Minister’s Gold Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management.
Germin Chan is the Founder of My Marsupium, which utilises gaming psychology to revolutionise financial education.
Born in Singapore, he moved to Adelaide, Australia in 2020 to study computer science (artificial intelligence) at the University of Adelaide. In 2022, he participated in Thinclab’s Tech eChallenge. It was there he came up with his business idea, Marsupium.
Marsupium was inspired by the fact that Germin grew up in a humble family, where he had to carefully watch his expenses and manage financial difficulties. He found that mobile games were an expensive and addictive escape for people his age.
Marsupium uses the addictiveness of mobile games to help people learn financial literacy skills and commit to financial goals. NOT Pay-To-Play but Save-To-Play.
Germin Chan is the Founder of My Marsupium, which utilises gaming psychology to revolutionise financial education.
Born in Singapore, he moved to Adelaide, Australia in 2020 to study computer science (artificial intelligence) at the University of Adelaide. In 2022, he participated in Thinclab’s Tech eChallenge. It was there he came up with his business idea, Marsupium.
Marsupium was inspired by the fact that Germin grew up in a humble family, where he had to carefully watch his expenses and manage financial difficulties. He found that mobile games were an expensive and addictive escape for people his age.
Marsupium uses the addictiveness of mobile games to help people learn financial literacy skills and commit to financial goals. NOT Pay-To-Play but Save-To-Play.