Australia Awards Alumnus targets development through policy making in Malawi

In 2009, Wiskes Nkombezi from Malawi completed an Australian Government funded Master’s degree in Public Policy focusing on Economic Policy at the Australian National University.  Currently, Wiskes serves as Assistant Director of Trade and Spokesperson for the Malawian Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Wiskes puts his Australia-learned skills and knowledge to good use soon after his return.  “I have participated and contributed to the formulation of the National Export Strategy, the Integrated Industry and Trade Policy and the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Policy,” says Wiskes. “All these policies will go a long way in the achievement of the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy II”, he adds.

Wiskes is deeply grateful for the opportunity to study in Australia and for the knowledge and skills gained. He says his studies have equipped him with analytic skills that he is using now to critique, analyse, and assess. “Studying in Australia exposed me to high quality debates on various subject matters; the high quality and access to equipment and facilities allowed us to research on issues; the availability of highly qualified lecturers, intermingling with students from various nationalities all helped to make my studies in Australia memorable and of high quality,” he explains.