Dr Van Kien Nguyen – Director
Dr Van Kien Nguyen received two Australian Award Scholarships (AAS) to undertake his Master’s course in Environmental Management and Development (2005-2006) and PhD in Sociology (2008-2012) at the Australian National University (ANU). He received the Luc Hoffmann Institute (LHI) Research Fellowship to undertake a two-year (2014-2016) postdoctoral research on sustainable rice-based farming systems at the ANU. https://luchoffmanninstitute.org/fellows/meet-our-fellows/kien-van-nguyen/
Kien is the pioneer in promoting the conservation of floating rice-based agroecological farming systems in the Mekong Region and Myanmar. The project was funded by the Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund, led by Prof Jamie Pittock (ANU Fenner School & Society) and co-led by Dr Van Kien Nguyen, a research fellow in agroecology at ANU Fenner School of Environment & Society (2017-2019) https://www.mitsui.com/jp/en/sustainability/contribution/environment/fund/results/1224468_7406.html
Kien joined the National Association of Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA) in 2017 and the Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS) in 2018 as a member. He is affiliated with the Organic Agriculture Association (OAA) in Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia, and Organic Trust Australia- Research and Education (OTARE). He is developing a network of organic growers, researchers, NGOs and research institutions working in the organic agriculture movement in Australia, Vietnam, Taiwan (MingDao University and Organic Agriculture Association), South Korea, Japan (Asia Rural Institute), China, the Philippines (PGS), Thailand, Cambodia (WCS, Ibis Rice), Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, IFOAM-Asia, USA, UK, Switzerland, India, Iran, and Netherland.
Dr Kien is an associate professor at the School of Dentistry and Public Health, Griffith University; an honorary senior lecturer at Fenner School of Environment & Society, the Australian National University; and an adjunct senior research fellow at the Faculty of Science, Agriculture, Business and Law, School of Environment and Rural Science, University of New England (2021-2025); senior research associate of Health & Agricultural Research Institute (HAPRI), University of Economics HCM City (UEH); international expert at the Climate Change Institute (CCI), An Giang University; the Steering Community Member of SUMERNET, SEI, Bangkok, Thailand, and the National Board Member of AliSEA Vietnam.
Dr. Estela Gutiérrez is a Legal Scientist holding a PhD in Global Law for Human Security, a Law Degree, a Diploma in International Business, a Postgraduate in the European Union and three Master’s degrees in Administrative Law, Political Leadership, Communication and Health and Safety Prevention. As a professional, Estela has been working for the Government of Spain for 21 years and also has experience in the European Union, developing projects in
Public Health and Safety, Digital Government, Citizens Security or Data Protection, among others. She is a lecturer on global law at the UAB and UOC in Barcelona and at the RMIT Australian University in Vietnam. Estela’s experience focuses on global regulation to protect human security, a discipline that includes economy, environment, holistic health prevention, and public policy leadership.
Her book “Gender and Emotions in the Era of Plastics” (Thomson Reuters, Aranzadi) is based on extensive research on the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, like pesticides, on Global human health.
Dr Daniel Gilfillan – Co-founder
Co-founder Dr Daniel Gilfillan supported Kien’s initiation of the Mekong Organics Platform. Daniel has experience establishing socially responsible programs and organisations in Southeast Asia. He is keenly interested in sustainable and organic agriculture and its role in people’s health and well-being. By identifying and working with organic entrepreneurs in the Mekong and linking them with Australian organic farmers, Kien and Daniel hope to accelerate the development of organic agriculture in the Mekong region.
Mr Alan Broughton – Adviser
Mr Alan Broughton has been involved with the Organic Agriculture Association (OAA) since 1985 in various roles, including editor and education officer, and currently the vice president of OAA in Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, Victoria Region, Australia. He wrote Australia’s first organic farming diploma course and taught it for 15 years. He worked for the Australian Landscape Trust for nine years until retirement at an organic beef farm, researching grazing management and soil carbon sequestration. Other jobs included nursery work, gardening grounds and bouts at fruit picking, shop assistant work and uploading goods trains. Alan has written and contributed to several books and has produced over 100 articles on biological agriculture and rural issues. Alan has been to organic farms in Cuba, Thailand, Tanzania, Uganda, Italy and South Korea. He will involve with the Mekong Orgnaics as principal research advisor and organic agriculture educator.
Mrs Huong Pham – Administrator & Community Project Coordinator
Kien Huong Pham graduated with a Master’s in Social Work from Australian Catholic University (2014), Certificate IV in Frontline Management at Canberra of Technology (CIT) in 2015, and a Diploma in Community Service Work from CIT (2011), and a Bachelor of English from Can Tho University (2002). She has been involved with Mekong Organics as a casual administrator since 2019. Her tasks include grant application checking, sub-contract arrangement and payroll for the clients, as well as email and phone communication with the clients in Vietnam and Australia. She also coordinates some community projects and client management.
Other Team Members
