Aus4Skills appoints Quentin Derrick as International Director of the Vietnam Australia Centre

Quentin Derrick has joined Tetra Tech as Aus4Skill’s International Director of the Vietnam Australia Centre, which it manages on behalf of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The VAC is a joint initiative of the Vietnamese and Australian Governments focused on strategic leadership and international engagement.

Based in Hanoi, the VAC will be a vibrant centre of education, research and dialogue that draws together Australian and Vietnamese experts to support Vietnam’s leadership and to deepen Vietnamese and Australian partnership between the two countries.

Society was tasked to find a dynamic, opportunist individual, diplomatic in relationship building and who has a significant track record in working sensitively in a cross-cultural multi-stakeholder context, with a deep appreciation for Vietnamese culture. The International Director will collaborate closely with the National Director to establish and develop the VAC as a vibrant, innovative and dynamic hub for leadership, education and research activities that delivers mutual benefits to the Australian and Vietnamese Governments and strengthens the strategic partnership between Australia and Vietnam.

After an extensive global search process, the appointed candidate was Quentin Derrick, former Manager of Strategic Education Projects at the William Angliss Institute. After moving to Ho Chi Minh in 2003, his passion for capacity building led him to he earn his Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Foreign Language Teaching, becoming Academic Coordinator at ILA Vietnam. Quentin spent a further 15 years in Vietnam, working in Vietnam’s education space for major Vietnamese intuitions such as the Singapore International School, Danang, the University of Queensland, Danang, Vietnam and RMIT Vietnam.

Speaking about his appointment, Quentin commented:

“Having lived and worked in Vietnam for over 16 years, I am both honoured and excited by the opportunity to manage the establishment of such an impactful and strategic project as the Vietnam Australia Centre, based in Hanoi. Vietnam has provided me with so many memorable and positive experiences that I am pleased to be able to give something back to support the country's development and to share my experience from both Australia and Vietnam as both countries look to boost trade and investment.”

He also added a mention of his experience with Society, saying:

“I am humbled by the reality of being chosen to lead this transformative initiative and am thankful for the support and stewardship shown by the team at Society with James and Emily attending to all parts of the recruitment journey in a truly professional, individualised and caring manner”.