The Gold Coast Mayor will today welcome 21 local and international students who will help promote the Gold Coast around the globe in their new roles as Mayors Student Ambassadors for 2025.
The group of tertiary and secondary school students come from 14 different countries, including Australia, showcasing the diversity of the student population on the Gold Coast.
Mayor Tom Tate will welcome the new ambassadors at a special Civic Ceremony at Gold Coast Council Chambers.
"Education is such a strong part of the fabric of the Gold Coast and our Student Ambassador program is a vital tool to promote Australia and the quality of the city's educational facilities to the rest of the globe," Mayor Tom Tate said.
As a former international student himself, the Mayor said the program also offered the student ambassadors an incredible opportunity.
"This program allows our student ambassadors to really make the most of their experience here. Take it from me, there is no better place to live and study than the Gold Coast, so share your experiences and when opportunity comes your way, make sure you grab it with both hands."
Now in its twelfth year, the Mayors Student Ambassador Program offers a select group of international and local students a once in a lifetime opportunity, including VIP behind the scenes experiences, personal development, cultural happenings, professional networking events and the opportunity to lead and facilitate activities across the city.
Experience Gold Coast Executive Director of Education Jennine Tax said the 2025 program would provide the student ambassadors with a unique experience.
"Our team have curated a really special program for our 2025 student ambassadors with an array of exclusive and meaningful experiences," Ms Tax said.
"As an Ambassador you'll get the chance to understand what it takes to run the city; go behind the scenes at some of the premier arts and cultural festivals on the Gold Coast; enhance your understanding of indigenous culture with a unique First Nations Experience; connect with our native wildlife while understanding the important conservation work that's being done; and cook for the disadvantaged in our city with OzHarvest."
The Mayors Student Ambassador Program is open to all Gold Coast secondary and tertiary students, both domestic and international.
This year 21 students from countries as far afield as Canada, Brazil, Columbia and Nepal are taking part in the Program, representing 8 different Gold Coast education and training providers.
The 2025 Mayors Student Ambassadors are:
- Anup Adhikari – Nepal (Southern Cross University)
- Gabriel Albuquerque – Brazil (Griffith University)
- Minhae Choi – South Korea (Griffith University)
- Matheesha Devendri – Sri Lanka (Compass Rose International College)
- Abby Dietrich – Australia (Griffith University)
- Yi-Ching Huang – Taiwan (Bond University)
- Chokyi Gyaltshen Wangdi – Bhutan (Griffith University)
- Levi Knight – Australia (Benowa State High School)
- Hannah Arndt – Canada (Griffith University)
- Seungseo Lee – South Korea (Southern Cross University)
- Ka Yiu Gordon Leung – Hong Kong (Griffith University)
- Isabelli Marino Fraga – Brazil (Australian Pacific College)
- Novita Indah Nugraheni – Indonesia (Griffith University)
- Lizzeth Neira Gonzalez – Colombia (Entrepreneur Education)
- Nguyen Thuy Vy Pham – Vietnam (Griffith University)
- Mattias Steljic – Australia (Queensland Academy of Health Sciences)
- Piper Stock – Australia (Griffith University)
- Bingjie Sun – China (Southern Cross University)
- Manaswi Patil – India (Griffith University)
- Fei Xue – China (Bond University)
- Rykaa Shetty – Canada (Griffith University)
CONTACT
Kesha West | 0432 862 727 | kesha.west@experiencegoldcoast.com
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.