Enormous congratulations to The Koala News Founder, Dirk Mulder, on receiving the 2024 International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Excellence Award for Professional Commentary.
I admit I was sceptical when Dirk first floated the idea of a media outlet that would bring current news and discourse about Australia’s international education sector, to Australia’s international education sector. I wondered if there really was a gap in the market and whether there would be enough content to sustain it.
How wrong was I? And how lucky are we that Dirk listened to his gut and his heart and established The Koala News in June 2023?
Dirk recognised there was an information gap, with no locally owned and operated media outlet providing broad and deep analysis of the international education sector. Now, just over one year on, The Koala News has become essential reading for anyone interested in Australia’s international education sector, especially amid the current politically disrupted landscape.
In addition to The Koala News, Dirk also partners with Rob Malicki on the Global Horizons podcast, talking all things international education, which you can find on Spotify.
Hearty and heartfelt congratulations, Dirk!
And a hearty congratulations to all the well-deserving winners of this year’s IEAA Excellence Awards:
Distinguished Contribution: Dr Steve Nerlich
Best Practice: Study NSW and NEAS Australia
Innovation: Study Adelaide
Leadership: joint winners Sarah Lightfoot and Professor James Adonopoulos
Tony Adams Rising Star: Dr Belle Lim
Outstanding postgraduate thesis: Dr Manaia Chou-Lee
And congratulations to the winner of the Tracy McCabe Fellowship, Emerging Leadership in International Education: Johan Arnberg, The University of Queensland
