2015 Australia Awards Alumni Ambassadors Workshop Builds Capacity of Alumni Leaders

Each year a cadre of new Australia Awards Alumni Ambassadors are appointed, and since the initiative began in 2013 the number of Alumni Ambassadors appointed each year has increased. In 2013, 10 Alumni Ambassadors were nominated, followed by 12 in 2013, and in 2015 14 high profile Alumni from 14 African countries have been appointed as Alumni Ambassadors.

The third Alumni Ambassadors workshop took place in Accra, Ghana, and was a three day intensive capacity building workshop running from 3-5 June at the Holiday Inn.

To launch the event, H.E. Mrs Joanna Adamson, Australian High Commissioner in Accra, congratulated the appointed Alumni Ambassadors, “The workshop is intended to enhance your skills, not only to fulfill your roles as Alumni Ambassadors in the coming year but also as leaders in your communities and in your various workplaces.”

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Fuseini Lansah, Registrar of the Scholarships Secretariat, encouraged the Alumni Ambassadors to use the skills they will gain during the workshop in promoting change in their countries as effective leaders.

‘Looking at the areas of coverage at this workshop, one would hope that at the end of it, participants will be equipped with skills to effectively operate not only as promoters of the Australia Awards program, but also and more importantly, as drivers and leaders of change in your respective operational areas and countries, using your Australian experience.’

Later in the evening, H.E. Mrs Joanna Adamson hosted a reception at her residence which was attended by Ghana government officials, DFAT delegates, Ghana Alumni Association members, 2015 Alumni Ambassadors and workshop facilitators.

Newly appointed Ghana Alumni Ambassador Lydia Achel expressed her gratitude to be an Australia Awards Alumni and emphasised the importance of making the most of opportunities being offered by the Australian Government. “Africa is in need of skills development and it is important that African professionals know about and take advantage of the opportunities that the Australian Government offers through the Australia Awards program. I am excited to be able to assist peers in my new role as the face and voice of the Australia Alumni in Ghana”.

This hands-on and interactive workshop provided Alumni Ambassadors with opportunities to learn new skills or enhance existing ones in areas of leadership, communication, networking, mentoring, presentation and work-plan development.

The 2015 Alumni Ambassadors from 14 African countries who will serve a one-year term are Onameditse Tshepiso Ntshese (Botswana),  Jean Bertrand Atangana  (Cameroon), Martin Tiehe (Côte d’Ivoire), Esubalew Tenaw Birhanu (Ethiopia), Lydia Amina Achel (Ghana), Anne Wangechi Mwangi (Kenya), Rasolonirina Nantenaina Andry (Madagascar), Koonjul Dharam Kevin (Mauritius) Ana Charles (Mozambique), Chikezie Isiguzo (Nigeria), Rokyaha Samba Ep Diene (Senegal), Kenny Mabaso (South Africa), Pamela William Levira (Tanzania), and Edward Kanyesigye (Uganda).

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