Australia Awards South and West Asia

As part of the first ever Australian Parliamentary Delegation visit to Nepal in over six decades of diplomatic ties with Nepal, Australia Awards alumni interacted with the delegation at a reception on 6 October 2023. The cross-party delegation visited both Nepal and India.

HE Ms Felicity Volk with the alumni.

The Hon. Mr Milton Dick MP, Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives and Federal Member for Oxley, led the delegation which included also included two members of parliament, Ms Libby Coker MP and Ms Joanne Ryan MP, and two senators, Senator Dean Smith and Senator Ralph Babet.

Australia’s Ambassador to Nepal, HE Ms Felicity Volk, welcomed the delegation, highlighting the significance of their visit. Ambassador Volk said, ‘We are at an important milestone in our bilateral relationship- with the first ever visit of an Australian parliamentary delegation, led at the highest level by the Speaker of our House of representatives – with the first visit by an Australian Minister in over 30 years – when Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts MP, visited in May this year. These engagements by senior leaders signal a relationship that is flourishing and more important than ever to Australia. It is a relationship that is underpinned by expanding people to people links.’

HE Ms Felicity Volk (left) offering welcome remarks and the Hon Milton Dick MP (right) addressing the gathering.

Addressing the invitees, the Hon Mr Dick MP introduced the delegation and made remarks, noting Australia and Nepal’s longstanding relationship and commending Australian alumni’s contributions to Nepal.

As leaders in their fields – particularly in climate change, the private sector and education – the alumni attending included senior officials from the Government of Nepal, civil society representatives and academics.

The reception took place at the Nepali Ghar Hotel in central Kathmandu.