Australia Awards South and West Asia

Aarati Sunar is a dedicated Public Health and Development professional with over six years of experience working at the grassroots level with non-government organisations. She has led various programs as a Program Coordinator in the health sector, focusing particularly on marginalised and vulnerable communities affected by diseases such as HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, leprosy and lymphatic filariasis. Her close engagement with these communities has shaped her commitment to promoting empowerment, equity and sustainable livelihoods for those often left behind.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, Aarati aims to deepen her expertise in sustainable development; climate resilience; inclusive policy design; and gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI). Upon her return to Nepal, she envisions applying her knowledge to foster community-led, climate-resilient livelihood initiatives that empower marginalised groups to achieve long-term wellbeing and self-reliance.

Aayushma Thapa Magar is a development professional who is passionate about advancing gender equality and inclusive education in Nepal. Based in Kathmandu, she has worked with USAID to improve access to quality education, and with UN Women to promote women’s leadership and political participation for inclusive governance. Her work reflects a deep commitment to empowering girls through education and fostering women’s leadership.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, Aayushma seeks to build on her experience and strengthen her skills in development policy, project design and evaluation. She aims to contribute to Nepal’s education goals by promoting sustainable, locally-driven and scalable interventions. Upon her return, Aayushma aspires to champion inclusive education policies and advocate for equitable development outcomes that benefit marginalised communities across Nepal.

Antosh Pradhan has been working with the Government of Nepal for the past eight years. During this tenure, he has worked extensively in the Ministry of Home Affairs, specialising in Refugee Affairs, Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism. His contributions to managing refugees and opposing money laundering and financing of terrorism have been well documented and widely appreciated within his professional area.

Through his Australia Awards Scholarship, Antosh plans to develop a sound understanding of public policy that applies a social science angle to real-world questions of policy and governance in government institutions. He aims to prepare himself in the field of policy analysis, policy implementation and governance.

Anupam Paudel is a Section Officer at Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs, where he contributes to disaster management plans, policies and strategies for the Government of Nepal. He has also served as an Assistant Chief District Officer in the remote Himalayan district of Humla, gaining valuable experience in on-the-ground emergency management and insights about the challenges faced by communities during disasters and emergencies.

With an academic background in engineering and geography, Anupam combines technical knowledge with field experience to bring a well-rounded perspective to risk mapping, early warning systems, resilience building, emergency response strategies, rehabilitation plans and integration of technology in disaster management.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, Anupam aims to develop expertise to support Nepal’s shift towards prevention-focused disaster management policies. Upon his return, he aspires to contribute to the localisation of inclusive disaster governance in Nepal. He also plans to contribute to an interoperable digital disaster management ecosystem.

Ashok Adhikari is an aquaculture professional working as a Fisheries Development Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kathmandu. He reviews and helps in drafting policies, legal documents and regulatory frameworks related to aquaculture and fisheries, focusing on sustainability, governance and biodiversity conservation. His work contributes to strengthening Nepal’s institutional and policy environment for the responsible growth of the aquaculture sector.

Through his Australia Awards Scholarship, Ashok seeks to enhance his technical expertise in aquaculture systems, fish breeding and policy making. On returning to Nepal, he aims to support aquaculture legal frameworks and promote sustainable, integrated, inclusive aquaculture practices that improve livelihoods while protecting natural aquatic ecosystems.

Bimala Lama is a dedicated forestry professional with over a decade of experience in Nepal’s forestry sector. Her expertise spans urban forestry, agroforestry, private forestry, climate change adaptation, and the use of latest technologies for forest resources assessment and forest carbon monitoring. She currently serves as a Research Officer at the Forest Research and Training Centre under Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment, where her key roles are to conduct research on critical forestry issues and develop policy briefs to support decision-making.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, Bimala aims to deepen her knowledge and skills regarding data-driven research, innovative practices in forestry, inter-sectoral policy formulation and the integration of GEDSI principles. Upon returning to Nepal, she aims to apply these insights to advance sustainable forest management, promote nature-based urban transformation and strengthen community resilience, serving as a bridge between research, policy and practice.

Ganga Gurung is an Occupational Therapist who established Bloom Park Clinic, a private practice in Nepal. She also serves as the Secretary of the Association of Nepal’s Occupational Therapists and co-founded Bloom Park Store, a private company that innovates and imports therapy tools and assistive devices to promote accessibility.

With nearly seven years of experience, Ganga leads multidisciplinary teams; trains parents, educators and professionals; and advocates for inclusive and neuro-affirming practices for children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Her work is deeply rooted in compassion and service, aiming to benefit children and families through inclusive care.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, Ganga seeks to strengthen her expertise in inclusive education, leadership and research to advance occupational therapy education, influence disability-inclusive policies, and empower families and professionals across Nepal.

Ganga Kumari Pokharel is a dedicated agricultural development professional currently serving as a Crop Development Officer at Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. During over 10 years of government service, she has worked across Nepal’s diverse regions, gaining deep insights into local farming systems. She currently leads strategic communication, training programs and awareness campaigns at the Agriculture Information and Training Center to strengthen linkages between farmers, researchers and policymakers.

Through her Australia Awards Scholarship, Ganga seeks to gain advanced knowledge of cutting-edge horticultural technologies to address urban challenges such as pollution, food insecurity and waste mismanagement. Her vision is to promote rooftop gardening, organic urban farming and composting of biodegradable waste to create greener, healthier cities. Upon her return to Nepal, she aims to lead transformative programs that foster circular urban economies and embed sustainability into urban development and planning.

Kamal B.K. is a development professional from Nepal’s marginalised Dalit community, committed to improving the lives and livelihoods of smallholder farmers through sustainable natural resource management, livelihood enhancement, market system development and value chain strengthening. He currently serves as a Natural Resource Management Expert for the Local Adaptation to Climate Change Project implemented by Cowater International, based in Birendranagar, Surkhet, working with local governments to promote climate-smart agriculture across Karnali Province and Sudurpashchim Province.

With extensive experience in national and international development organisations, working across 40 districts and six provinces of Nepal, Kamal has advanced environmentally-sustainable and economically-resilient farming systems through participatory and market-oriented approaches. Passionate about agroforestry innovation and climate-smart agriculture, he aims to leverage his Australia Awards Scholarship at the University of Queensland to deepen his technical and research expertise and, upon returning to Nepal, champion community-based agroforestry initiatives that foster inclusion, sustainability and rural prosperity.

Karuna Sharma Pandit serves as a veterinary officer with the Department of Livestock Services in Kathmandu and is passionate about enhancing rural livelihoods.

Over years of service at federal and provincial levels, she has led on-farm initiatives to improve feeding strategies, mentor farmers and support livestock health within smallholder dairy systems. She focuses on enhancing livestock productivity, reproductive efficiency and disease prevention to boost inclusive rural development.

The Australia Awards Scholarship presents her with an exceptional opportunity to engage in Australia’s world-class animal science research and practice and to amplify her technical expertise through practical solutions. On returning to Nepal, Karuna will apply this enhanced expertise to inform national policy; empower women and marginalised farmers; and drive sustainable, inclusive growth in the livestock sector.

Mohana Rajak is a law professional who currently works with the Government of Nepal as a Bench Assistant at Kathmandu District Court. In this role, she records statements of accused individuals and assists judges in drafting judgments. Her close engagement with the judicial process has deepened her curiosity about the root causes of crime and how social and gender inequalities influence human behaviour.

Having witnessed domestic violence and social inequality from a young age, Mohana developed a strong sense of empathy and resilience—qualities that fuel her lifelong commitment to justice and social reform.

As an Australia Awards scholar, Mohana aims to explore how criminological approaches can help make Nepal’s justice system more inclusive and effective. Her ultimate ambition is to serve as a judge who upholds fairness, compassion and integrity—contributing to a justice system that not only delivers verdicts but also fosters understanding, equity and reform.

Parikshya Gurung is a public sector veterinarian with a strong passion for animal health and welfare and a focus on sustainable livestock production. She currently serves as a Veterinary Officer at the Department of Livestock Services, Hariharbhawan, Lalitpur, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

In her role, Parikshya facilitates collaboration with development partners on projects that enhance livestock production and productivity, strengthen food safety, and improve overall animal health. She also coordinates with the three tiers of government to organise and support capacity-building programs for government staff, ensuring effective implementation and participation of key stakeholders.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, Parikshya aims to acquire advanced knowledge and practical experience in sustainable livestock farming practices, ranging from improved animal husbandry to establishing animal disease-free zones. She envisions contributing to Nepal’s economic growth through the development and export of high-quality livestock products.

Pushpa Gnawali is passionate about transforming Nepal’s agriculture system through policy-level engagement. Guided by this passion, she joined the public service in 2022 as an Agriculture Extension Officer under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, securing the first rank in the Public Service Commission’s open competition. She also has hands-on experience working directly with farmers at the local level. As a witness to the worsening impacts of climate change on agricultural systems in the Hilly region, she is profoundly committed to enhancing farming resilience through innovation, technology dissemination and policymaking.

Through her Australia Awards Scholarship, Pushpa aims to deepen her expertise in climate-smart and resilient agricultural systems. Upon her return to Nepal, she aspires to apply her technical knowledge, competencies and networks to promote inclusive and sustainable farming practices across Nepal through policy sensitisation and advocacy.

Reecha Basnet is a forester, environmental strategist and researcher advancing climate resilience in Nepal. She leads Environmental and Social Safeguards at MA Construction Pvt Ltd, overseeing the Seti Khola Hydropower Project in Pokhara and ensuring that infrastructure development aligns with ecological sustainability and community wellbeing. As a mentor and educator, she has trained aspiring foresters and co-founded Green Impact Nepal to promote applied forest research and environmental awareness.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, Reecha is pursuing a master’s degree by research that addresses the escalating threat that forest fire poses in Nepal. Her study integrates remote sensing, GIS-based hazard mapping, coupled fire–atmosphere modelling, carbon cycle analysis and machine learning to understand fire behaviour, predict future risks and assess fire-induced carbon fluxes in Nepal’s vulnerable and diverse ecosystems.

Upon returning to Nepal, she aims to apply her research to develop strategies for sustainable fire management and climate adaptation, to strengthen ecosystem resilience and national fire preparedness.

Samana Lawati is a grassroots community organiser, feminist researcher and facilitator with nearly a decade of experience working at the intersection of identity, feminist education and political socialisation. In 2020, she co-founded Political Literacy for Women, an institution dedicated to advancing political literacy and advocacy while amplifying the visibility and participation of young women in public and political spaces.

Samana’s work focuses on rebuilding a just and inclusive Nepal by advancing transitional justice and equitable state representation. Her research and advocacy engage with reparations, state accountability, democratic federalism and electoral justice in seeking to guide Nepal’s ongoing transition through grounded and transformative strategies.

With the support of the Australia Awards Scholarship, Samana aims to deepen her expertise in public and social policy and governance. She seeks to critically examine dominant policy frameworks and return equipped with transformative, tools to strengthen inclusive and equitable governance systems in Nepal.

Sanjeev Moktan is a dedicated Sanitary Engineer with the Government of Nepal, passionate about ensuring safe drinking water and sanitation for all Nepalis.

He currently works at the Ministry of Water Supply in Singhadurbar, Kathmandu, supporting national-level Water, Sanitation and Hygiene policy and planning. With three years’ experience in Lumbini Province, Sanjeev has successfully led various drinking water and wastewater projects through government–community partnerships, demonstrating expertise in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

As an Australian Awards scholar, he aims to master cutting-edge drinking water and wastewater treatment technologies and research in Australia. Sanjeev’s vision is to leverage this enhanced knowledge to drive innovation, solutions and sustainable infrastructure development—significantly accelerating expansion of safely managed drinking water and sanitation coverage across Nepal.

Sharad Pandey is a Senior Agriculture Officer at the Rural Enterprise and Economic Development Project in Lalitpur, Nepal, under the Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. He leads the Monitoring and Evaluation unit, supporting rural enterprise development by strengthening market linkages between smallholder farmers and value-chain actors through productive partnerships. During 15 years of experience, he has progressed from a field extension worker to a senior officer, contributing to planning and developing programs to increase farmers’ incomes.

Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, he aims to deepen his expertise in sustainable agribusiness strategies and value-chain innovations for rural market linkages. His goal is to leverage his experience and networks to design and implement inclusive strategies to expand agribusiness opportunities and improve livelihoods for smallholder farmers. He plans to contribute to national strategies aimed at transforming subsistence farming into a competitive, inclusive and climate-resilient agribusiness system.

Sishir Panthi is a Senior Scientific Officer working at the Plant Research Center, Banke. With over a decade of experience, he contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of Nepal’s rich plant diversity. He has been actively engaged in the research and promotion of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). His work also involves supporting the certification and quality assurance of MAPs through laboratory-based testing.

Sishir is passionate about applying scientific research to biodiversity conservation and resource management. He aims to gain advanced knowledge and skills regarding molecular biology through the Australia Awards Scholarship. Upon his return to Nepal, he plans to integrate modern molecular tools into species identification and certification of MAPs, as well as to strengthen conservation efforts and promote fair trade.

Suman Bohara has been working as a Technical Officer (Plant Breeding and Genetics) at the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, under Nepal’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. He is currently based at the Directorate of Agricultural Research, Lumbini Province, in Khajura, Banke. His work primarily focuses on the development, evaluation and dissemination of improved cereal crop varieties, particularly wheat, rice and maize.

Suman is passionate about integrating modern plant-breeding tools to develop climate-resilient crops and strengthening the links between research, extension and farmers to ensure wider adoption of improved technologies. Through the Australia Awards Scholarship, he aims to enhance his expertise in genetics and advanced breeding tools, and to establish an international network for future collaborations. Upon returning to Nepal, he aspires to lead programs that develop improved crop varieties, strengthen the research system, and contribute to food security and climate resilience across the country.