Meet our Judges
Round 1
Dr. HUYNH TAN LOI
Lecturer of Faculty of Environment, Van Lang University
Education
- PhD in Environmental Engineering, Kyoto University – Japan
- Master in Environment Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology – Thailand
- Bachelor of Environmental Technology and Management, Van Lang University
Experience
- Speaker and Judge for Youth Speak Competition 2020 hosted by AIESEC;
- Trainer of the project “Learning and skills training for children, period of 2022 – 2026” funded by the UNICEF;
- Trainer of the project “Raising awareness and management capacity in climate change adaptation” hosted by DONRE;
- Researcher of international and national projects in environmental and sustainability fields;
- SDGs board of VLU.
Ms. LE THI THUY TRANG
English course Coordinator, IEI, Van Lang University
Education
Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics – Curtin University, Australia
Experience
English Lecturer and English Course Coordinator at IEI.
English lecturer – VUS, University of Economics and Law, Greenwich University, and Kent International College.
Dr. K. SAROJANI KRISHNAN
Senior Lecturer at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Business School
- Bachelor of Arts (Hons.)
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Malaysia
- Master of Education (TESOL) from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Malaysia
- PhD in Language Testing from the University of Bedfordshire, UK.
With over 20 years of teaching experience at higher education institutions, Dr. Krishnan has taught a variety of courses including Academic Writing, Research Methodology, Seminars, and several English Language courses. Her research interests include language testing and evaluation, assessment, language performance, teaching and learning, motivation and demotivation, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
Additionally, she has served as an adjudicator for international and local public speaking competitions, as well as a judge for debates.
Mr. MOHD HAFIZH MOHAMED
- Bachelor of English Language Teaching (B.Ed. ELT) with honours from the University of Surrey, UK
- Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (M. Ed. TESOL) from University Science Malaysia (USM).
- English lecturer in the Student Development section at the Malaysian Institute of Information Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL-MIIT) in Kuala Lumpur.
He began his career teaching English in secondary schools in Perlis for eight years, followed by nine years of teaching at institutions of higher learning in Malaysia.
He has extensive experience in teaching and training and has conducted several proficiency courses for English as a Second Language under UniKL-MIIT’s Edu-Tourism program. These courses cater to local and international students, including Korean students.
Mohd Hafizh has a strong interest in language testing and has been actively involved with the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) since 2002. He is currently a lead examiner and panel member for MUET syllabus development and test paper. Moreover, he has conducted MUET workshops for UniKL students and members of the public.
Round 2
Mr. IVAN JIM SAGUIBAL LAYUGAN
Convener and Chief Adjudicator, IDEBATE 2023
Ivan Jim Layugan is a writer and teacher currently based in Kiryu City, Japan where he works with the Kiryu City Board of Education. He was a varsity debater during his years in university and has served as an adjudicator and debater in local and national debate competitions in the Philippines, including the National Debate Championships. He has also taught Debate and Argumentation at the University of Baguio, Philippines for six years, prior to moving to Japan. His works align with SDGs 3, 4, and 5. His research interests include gendered narratives, the language of resilience, and masculinities in organizations.
He was a fellow in various writing, journalism, and leadership workshops and programs in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and the US. He is currently the Philippines’ National Lead for the National University of Singapore’s Asia Research Institute for the project entitled “Living with Covid-19 in Southeast Asia” and has served as principal investigator for research projects with NGOs such as Oxfam, ChildFund, and Association Sœur Emmanuelle. He is also a poet and essayist, and his creative nonfiction was first anthologized at age 18. For more details about him, visit www.ianlayugan.com.
Dr. HUYNH TAN LOI
Lecturer of Faculty of Environment, Van Lang University
Education
- PhD in Environmental Engineering, Kyoto University – Japan
- Master in Environment Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology – Thailand
- Bachelor of Environmental Technology and Management, Van Lang University
Experience
- Speaker and Judge for Youth Speak Competition 2020 hosted by AIESEC;
- Trainer of the project “Learning and skills training for children, period of 2022 – 2026” funded by the UNICEF;
- Trainer of the project “Raising awareness and management capacity in climate change adaptation” hosted by DONRE;
- Researcher of international and national projects in environmental and sustainability fields;
- SDGs board of VLU.
Ms. DINH HUYNH MAI-TU
Lecturer of Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University
Education
- English Language at Van Lang University
- Ed. in Expert in Teaching at Monash University
Experience
- Lecturer of the Faculty of Foreign Languages (Van Lang University)
- MC and moderator for conferences such as VLTESOL 1st, VLTESOL 2nd, etc.
- Advisor and judge for cultural and academic activities such as: English Speaking Contest, Asian English Olympic, FOLA Singing Contest, etc.
- Translator and interpreter for academic activities
- Mentor for some community service activities such as JOBEX, Teaching English for the Disadvantaged
Mr Nicholas Collier
- Learning Adviser, Learning and Teaching , Academic Division, The University of Newcastle
Nicholas is a Learning Advisor at the University of Newcastle, where he works with students on their academic language, writing and speaking skills during their studies. Before arriving in Newcastle in 2009, he taught English in Japan and Saudi Arabia, where he met every imaginable sort of student and covered every imaginable sort of material. If one job involved teaching medical vocabulary to hospital staff in the middle of the desert, another might involve teaching colours to kindergarten students in the middle of a high-rise city. Another might involve teaching modern literature to retirees, Japanese grammar to adult learners, or everything in between.
Born and raised in Australia, he has travelled widely in Asia, and speaks several languages (he tried learning Vietnamese three years ago, but wasn’t very good at it). Qualified in education, philosophy, linguistics, English literature and Indonesian history, he also writes and illustrates, and is known among his colleagues for travelling ridiculously long distances on foot. Before being asked to participate in Van Lang University’s debating tournament, he worked on presentation, public speaking and debating with students from many backgrounds.
Final Round
Dr. AZRIEY MAZLAN
- Consul Education
- Education Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh City
Education
- University Putra Malaysia(Doctorate in Human Communication, Master in Corporate Communication, Bachelor’s degree in Communication)
- Several years at the Ministry of Health in the
Human Resource Department and the Prime Minister’s
Department under the Public Complaints Bureau. - Administrative & Diplomatic Officer in the Malaysian Goverment in 2008.
Dr. NGO QUANG TRUNG
- Vice President, Van Lang University
- Director – International Education Institute
Education
- Ph.D. in Colorado State University, USA (2009)
- Research interest: international economics, export-led growth theory, and macroeconomic policy.
- Vice President of Van Lang University;
- Director of the International Education Institute, Dean of the Faculty of Commerce;
- 15 years of teaching and management expertise
Dr. PHAN THE HUNG
Senior Lecturer, Dean of the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University
Education
- Ph.D. in Linguistics, specialized in Cognitive Linguistics in Vietnam and at The University of Queensland, Australia
- M.A. in Applied Linguistics at Northern Iowa University, USA
- TESOL in University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), USA
Experience
- Assistant to the President of the University of Dalat, Vietnam in International Cooperation.
- Vice-Director of Center for Vietnam-Korea Culture, University of Dalat, Vietnam
- Dean of Faculty of International Studies, University of Dalat, Vietnam
- Vice Chancellor, Bach Viet College, HCMC, Vietnam
- Dean of Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Dalat, Vietnam
- Dean of Faculty of Foreign Languages, Van Lang University, Vietnam
Assoc. Prof. Dr. LE THI KIM OANH
Dean of Faculty of Environment, Van Lang University
Education
- PhD in Environmental Science, Wageningen University, the Netherlands
- Prof. in Environmental Science since 2017
Experience
- Consultant for International Organizers, NGOs, and Government on Climate Change, Sustainable Development Strategies, …
- Consultant of C40 groups in planning climate change strategies for HCMC;
- Consultant for IKEA in forming circular economy strategies
- Consultant for Ho Chi Minh City and Thu Duc City’s People Committees in urban planning and climate change adaptation action plans.
- Expert in Sustainable Development, Circular Economy and Climate change in local, national, and regional areas.
Mr. JON CANNON
General Manager, Movenpick Hotel Sukhumvit 15 Bangkok
Bio
Having joined Accor in 2010 at Sydney Olympic Park, home to the first Pullman address in Australia, Jon took on various operational roles across the country before relocating to Thailand in 2015. Since then, Jon has held leadership positions in Phuket, Koh Samui and Bangkok.
Jon is also Accor’s Planet 21 Champion for Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Within this role, Jon oversees projects related to sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) at over 140 hotels and resorts across five countries. Planet 21 is Accor’s Global CSR programme consisting of a series of ambitious objectives structured around four strategic pillars: working with employees, involving clients, innovating with partners, and involving local communities.
In his spare time Jon is a Board member for the Thailand chapter of the Australian Chamber of Commerce, and is actively involved in community initiatives across the Kingdom, heading the chamber’s CSR committee.
Jon also supports three children at Yaowawit School – Kapong, in the Phang Nga Province of southern Thailand, as part of a community sponsorship programme, along with his rescue dog, Keo, who he met during the pandemic in Koh Samui.
Mr. IVAN JIM SAGUIBAL LAYUGAN
Convener and Chief Adjudicator, IDEBATE 2023
Ivan Jim Layugan is a writer and teacher currently based in Kiryu City, Japan where he works with the Kiryu City Board of Education. He was a varsity debater during his years in university and has served as an adjudicator and debater in local and national debate competitions in the Philippines, including the National Debate Championships. He has also taught Debate and Argumentation at the University of Baguio, Philippines for six years, prior to moving to Japan. His works align with SDGs 3, 4, and 5. His research interests include gendered narratives, the language of resilience, and masculinities in organizations.
He was a fellow in various writing, journalism, and leadership workshops and programs in Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and the US. He is currently the Philippines’ National Lead for the National University of Singapore’s Asia Research Institute for the project entitled “Living with Covid-19 in Southeast Asia” and has served as principal investigator for research projects with NGOs such as Oxfam, ChildFund, and Association Sœur Emmanuelle. He is also a poet and essayist, and his creative nonfiction was first anthologized at age 18. For more details about him, visit www.ianlayugan.com.
Prof. KENT ANDERSON
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global), the University of Newcastle
Professor Anderson is highly respected as an innovative leader with a passion for engagement in communities and internationalisation in the higher education sector. He is returning to the University of Newcastle after working for the institution as Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Advisor in 2019 before moving across to his current role as the senior advisor on higher education to the Federal Minister for Education.
From 2014-18, Professor Anderson was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) at the University of Western Australia and prior to that held the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Adelaide. He has also worked in the higher education sector at ANU where he was the Foundation Director of the School of Culture, History and Language and as an Associate Professor in Law at Hokkaido University.
