The first class of the 12-course, 15-month Master of Global Trade program was led by RMIT’s Dr. Steve Clarke and Hinrich Foundation Senior Research Fellow, Stephen Olson.

The day was capped off with a welcome event and an award ceremony for the 28 Hinrich Global Trade Leader scholars. Each scholar was nominated by their respective employers, which are: AdAsia Media, Asian Trade Centre, Avery Dennison, BIDV, Duc Thanh Wood, House of Habib, HSBC, Innolux, KPMG, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, QV Seafood, RMIT, SAM Agritech, Samsung, VF Corp, Virbac and Siemens Healthineers.

Leading companies across trade value chains hand-picked staff for the program to advance their leadership talent development.

Prior to presenting the Global Trade Leaders with their scholarship certificates and copies of A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World, Kathryn Dioth, CEO of the Hinrich Foundation, noted the expertise of the scholars, who have an average of 12 years’ work experience across global value chains.

Kathryn added: “I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations upon being chosen by your companies, RMIT and the Hinrich Foundation for a scholarship for the Master of Global Trade. But more importantly, congratulations on your own choice – your wisdom – to select the Master of Global Trade as your next education opportunity for professional advancement.”

Hinrich Global Trade Leader scholars come from nine countries and have an average of 12 years’ progressive work experience in trade. Pictured here with Hinrich Foundation CEO, Kathryn Dioth, and Program Director, Alex Boome.

One scholar, Chau Cao, Business Development Manager at New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, said: “Six months ago, I learned about the RMIT Master of Global Trade. A few weeks later, I met Mr. Hinrich, the Hinrich Foundation and RMIT teams, employer partners, scholars, alumni and potential candidates. From this very first engagement, I knew that I had to be part of this program. And today, here I am, with 27 other global trade leaders!”

Hinrich Foundation Alumni Association Vietnam chapter leader, Mai Nguyen, said: “When I first received my scholarship, it was all about academic studies for me. But when I started my Global Trade Leader journey, I knew it was a lot more rewarding of a journey than just pursuing another degree. It was about professional development and skills training, about enhancing my leadership skills to embrace leadership responsibilities in my work and in supporting the next generation of Global Trade Leaders.”

The Hinrich Foundation Education Program Manager, Phuong Nguyen, invited the class to apply for the Scholar Advisory Committee. The committee is a body of scholars who will represent the cohort in ensuring the sustainability of the program through course feedback, industry outreach and next-generation scholar recruiting.

The next course in the Master of Global Trade is Sales & Cross-cultural Negotiation, scheduled for April 2020.

Learn more about the Master of Global Trade program here.