Career summary

Linh Ngo is a forward-thinking professional currently serving as the Manager (Strategy and Insights) at Study Melbourne, Victorian Government. Linh also starts a secondment as the Senior Project Officer, Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation and Infrastructure in February 2024. With a background in International Studies & Communications, she began her career journey with a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University in 2015. Linh's career evolved with practical experience and educational achievements, including a Master of Project Management from Monash University in 2021.

From 2016 to 2020, Linh contributed her expertise to the Australian Government Department of Education, initially as an Education Intern at the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and later as a Project Officer. She demonstrated a commitment to fostering cross-cultural connections in her role as the Policy and Program Manager at the Australia-Vietnam Leadership Dialogue in 2021.

Linh's dedication to excellence is highlighted by her academic achievements and her presentation at the International Conference of Undergraduate Research in 2015. Currently, as the Manager at Study Melbourne, she has swiftly progressed from Advisor to Manager, showcasing her dynamic approach. Linh's ability to navigate complex challenges and provide strategic direction reflects her commitment to driving innovation and fostering meaningful connections in her field.

Career pathway

Present – Senior Project Officer, Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation and Infrastructure 
2023 – Manager (Strategy and Insights), Study Melbourne
2022 – Acting Manager (Strategy and Insights), Study Melbourne
2020 – 2022 – Project Officer and Advisor (Strategy and Market Development), Study Melbourne
2021 – Master of Project Management, Monash University
2021 – Policy and Program Manager, Australia-Vietnam Leadership Dialogue
2017 – 2020 – Project Officer (Australian Embassy Vietnam), Department of Education, Australian Government
2016 – Education Intern (Australian Embassy Vietnam)
2015 – Bachelor of Arts (International Studies & Communications), Monash University
2015 – Presenter, International Conference of Undergraduate Research (ICUR)

Why did you decide to study a Bachelor of Arts at Monash University?

A big reason was because of the reputation of Monash University. I did extensive research on what Monash was offering, and I could see the breadth and depth of Monash University’s offerings. I had just graduated from high school, I had 11 years of classical piano performance under my belt, and I knew that Monash was somewhere that I could explore my varied interests.

On one hand, I was interested in politics and international relations, and on the other hand, classical music. I wanted to explore global issues and international relations from a wide range of perspectives, so I picked the Bachelor of Arts. I did a double major in international studies and communications with a minor in French. The course was structured in a very flexible way so that I could pick the units that best suited my interests. That was a really good experience for me.

Why did you choose to specialise in international studies and communications?

It went way back to when I was growing up and watching the news every evening. That was a natural development of my interest in international relations and global issues. I was fascinated by the reports on international affairs, as well as how these global issues impacted countries differently, especially in Vietnam, where I was from. I was interested in knowing about the different perspectives. To know what our country looks like from the American perspective, or the Australian perspective and how or why we would like to pursue a bilateral, mutually beneficial relationship with other countries.

How did the Bachelor of Arts set you on your current career path?

When I graduated with my bachelor's I came back to Vietnam and started two internships. One was at a private university in Vietnam where I was the Global Officer for three months. I then did an internship with the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, and I stayed on for four years until I came back to Monash for my master's.

I was surprised by how efficient and resourceful I was straight after graduation. I not only met but also exceeded my employer's expectations in my role, and I think that was because of the really good foundation that I got from my Bachelor of Arts degree at Monash. From there, I was able to learn and grow quickly in a nurturing professional environment.

Why did you decide to return to Monash for your master's?

First of all, I wanted to go back to Melbourne. It's the vibrant arts and culture scenes and the city is so unique and enjoyable for me personally. I love browsing through the galleries, the cafes, the museums, and the impressive street art. When I came back to Melbourne and Monash, I felt like I had never left.

Secondly, I was really interested in project management. My former manager knew that I had an interest in project management, so she gave me a couple of projects to work on. I did some more research on Monash and a couple of other universities in Melbourne that offered the same course. I met a Monash University leader when I was in Vietnam, and she spoke about how the leading academics in project management in the country lead the programme at Monash. I was impressed.

Thirdly, I just love the people here at Monash. It had given me a highly tailored study experience for my bachelor's, which I found impressive being such a large university. I had a highly personalised experience and received incredible support from the lecturers and support staff across the different schools and faculties. I was with the Arts faculty for my bachelor's and then the business faculty for my master's. In each, everyone was really wonderful, highly encouraging, professional, and generous when it came to academic and career advice.

Can you tell us a little bit about your current role at Study Melbourne? How do elements of your degree come into play?

Study Melbourne is a Victorian government initiative dedicated to supporting international students in Victoria, both in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. I started in the role in December 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. I was employed through the Victorian Government Youth Employment Program, which supported young people in Victoria who either lost their job or didn't have a job during the pandemic.

In my role, I hold responsibility for international education policy, and I provide advice on the strategic direction for the international education sector across the Victorian Government. Recently, one of the highlights of my role was my contribution to Victoria's International Education Recovery Plan 2025. This included coordinating stakeholder engagement and consultation with all segments of the international education sector, the Victorian government, and students and industry bodies. Working with senior management, I drafted the strategy, refined graphic design and prepared for the release of the plan as well. It was launched by the Victorian Treasurer in 2022 and outlines the government strategy for sector recovery and growth until 2025. The Recovery Plan has been well received by the sector, industry practitioners and professionals alike.

Another area I've been focusing on at the moment which is also a big priority for Study Melbourne is improving pathways to quality and relevant employment outcomes for international students. Being a former international student myself, I understand it is really important to find meaningful work. We've been talking to employers in Victoria to encourage them to provide equal opportunities for international student graduates in Victoria and to shift the dial about how talented and capable international students are and how they can help to fill some of the skill shortages in Victoria.

For all my roles here and in the past, the skills that I gained from my Monash studies have been really important. It's all about learning how to learn. One of the key things that I learned from Monash is that it's about learning new skills and new knowledge, especially in this constantly changing world of work. We must be highly adaptable and flexible. I learned cross-cultural communication, writing skills, stakeholder management, and how to be a critical thinker from my studies at Monash. It's about influencing without authority, which I learnt because of my experience at Monash working across different teams, engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, and learning from industry experts, not only academics. Because of those skills, I got to where I am today.

What opportunities for professional development did Monash provide you with?

During my undergraduate studies, I was a presenter at the Monash Warwick International Conference of Undergraduate Research. With support from a lecturer, I was guided through writing an abstract and presenting at the conference. It was an incredible experience; it was my first time doing that kind of thing and was very similar to a professional conference.

As part of my master's degree, we had an industry consulting project at the end of the program. We were split into teams of five and worked with an external organisation. By the end, we had developed a marketing strategy for this organisation; it was a 12-week industry project. With support from our academic supervisor, we worked directly with the industry partner. We had weekly meetings with them, worked on scoping out the project, what the deliverables were, worked out our own timelines, and agreed on all these key aspects with the industry partner. We then developed the final report, shared our research findings, and worked with them to refine the final product. In the end, it was incredibly well received and in the feedback document that they use for their annual strategy planning process, we learnt that they had incorporated a lot of the elements that we provided in our final output. So that was encouraging to hear.

Before I started at Monash, I had 11 years of professional piano performance training. I found out I could take an elective in chamber music. That was an option that I previously didn't know was available, so I was really happy that I could continue to pursue my passion for classical music. I played in a trio group with two other student artists. One was a vocalist, and the other one was a flutist. We performed at a Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music end-of-year concert, which was also our exam, and it was a really nice surprise that we got first prize for the best chamber music performance that year.

You were an SRA International Ambassador Programme member as well?

I joined the International Student Ambassador programme in late 2020/early 2021. It was during the pandemic, so we had really limited interaction with students. The Student Engagement Office reached out to some of us so that we could participate in the online Open Day and talk to students virtually. We answered inquiries from prospective international students and just shared advice and our experiences at Monash. It was fun being able to join Open Day from my room and talk to so many prospective students while in lockdown!

Did you have any highlights from your time at Monash?

There were so many highlights. Presenting at the Conference of Undergraduate Research was an incredible experience. I also volunteered at various events, including the Moodle Conference, the Mother's Day Classic running competition, the Winter Festival, and a couple of other events. I was part of the Monash Arts Peers Ambassadors and Leaders (PAL) Programme, helping students transition from high school to university. I went to the UK as an exchange student for one semester, during the second year of my bachelor's degree. I also performed with the Monash Academy Orchestra, so I was on stage with all these fellow students, artists, and musicians. It was a beautiful performance.

Would you recommend both of your degrees to potential future students?

Absolutely. What stood out the most to me were the transferable skills that I gained during my Bachelor of Arts degree. A lot of people asked me “What are you going to do after you graduate?” I didn't know at the time. My friends were studying accounting and engineering and had a clear pathway in their heads, but for me, it was more about finding the intersection between my passions and my skillset. In my experience, I feel like you can do anything with an Arts degree. The transferable skills are incredible. You need all these skills across all the roles nowadays. And as I said, it's about learning how to learn in this fast-changing work environment.

What advice do you have for students looking to make the most of their time at Monash?

One of the things that I always say to future students is to ask for advice when you are unsure and reach out when you need help. Everyone is really friendly and willing to help, you just need to let people know that you are seeking support.

When I was at Monash, I wasn't sure about my course progress, so I went to the Faculty of Arts student office. When I wasn't sure about assignment requirements, I reached out to my lecturers, and they were incredibly helpful. I didn't know anything about citing and referencing at first, so I booked a session at the library, which also helped improve my writing skills and my academic results. All the help and support that I received paid off. For my master’s degree, I was awarded Best Graduate Student in Project Management.

Come to Monash with an open mind and an open heart and you will become a better version of yourself.