(L-R) Philippine Honorary Consul to South Australia Darryl Johnson, H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, and Mr. Douglas Gautier AM, CEO and Artistic Director of Adelaide Festival Centre discussed opportunities for Philippine participation in OzAsia 2021 as part of the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Australia during a meeting on 30 October 2019 in Adelaide.

31 October 2019 – During her Official Visit to South Australia on 28-30 October 2019, H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, explored opportunities to build culture, health and innovation cooperation between the Philippines and South Australia.

Mr. Douglas Gautier AM, CEO and Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival Centre and Ambassador De La Vega discussed opportunities for Philippine participation in OzAsia 2021 to coincide with the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the Philippines and Australia as well as institutional linkages with cultural agencies in the Philippines.

COO Ms. Amanda Mcllroy provided Ambassador De La Vega with a tour of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) which is South Australia’s first independent flagship health and medical research institute. Ambassador De La Vega and Ms. Mcllroy discussed SAMHRI’s international engagements and opportunities to partner with medical institutions in the Philippines.

At the Tonsley Innovation District, Director Philipp Dautel provided a tour and briefing on the role of Tonsley in supporting the innovation ecosystem in South Australia and opportunities for the Philippines to learn from this model in the establishment of Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers in the Philippines mandated under the Innovation Act of the Philippines. Technical and Further Education (TAFE) SA Education Manager Mr. Kevin Burns also provided a tour of the facilities of TAFE SA which has been a model for TAFE institutions across Australia.

Mr. Richard Price, Chief Executive of Defence SA and Mr. Bill Docalovich, Program Director of the Naval Shipbuilding College, gave an overview of the opportunities in South Australia in innovation, defence and space ecosystems.

Ambassador De La Vega said she looks forward to progressing discussions on building these new forms of cooperation between the Philippines and Australia as the two countries prepare for the 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations in 2021. END

(L-R) Mr. Paolo Maroma, Honours in Medicine Student, H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, and Ms. Amanda Mcllroy, COO of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute met on 29 October 2019 in Adelaide.

Mr. Philip Dautel, Director of the Tonsley Innovation District, Philippine Honorary Consul to South Australia Darryl Johnson, H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, and Mr. Raphael Garcia, Operations Manager of New Venture Institute met on 29 October 2019 at the Tonsley Innovation District in South Australia.

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) SA Education Manager Mr. Kevin Burns provides H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, a tour of their facilities on 29 October 2019 at the Tonsley Innovation District.

Philippine Honorary Consul to South Australia Darryl Johnson, H.E. Ma. Hellen B. De La Vega, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Mr. Richard Price, Chief Executive of Defence SA and Mr, Bill Docalovich, Program Director of the Naval Shipbuilding College met on 29 October 2019 in Adelaide.