Atal Samad

• Lead the Victorian Government's strategic initiatives for international education in two key markets: Greater China and Latin America, with a focus on government-to-government relations, institutional partnerships, and research collaborations.
• Oversee the Study Melbourne offshore hubs across China, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, and Latin America—a flagship Victorian Government initiative—ensuring effective program delivery and maintaining Melbourne's reputation as the best student city in Australia.
• Lead the delivery of Study Melbourne Sector briefings, where the Victorian Government Trade and Investment Offices provide market intelligence and identify new opportunities for Victorian education providers and companies in diverse regions.

Achievements:

• Contributed to the development and finalisation of over 40 commercial agreements, valued at over $25 million.
• Supported over 25 high-level delegations and facilitating the delivery of five super missions led by the Governor and Treasurer of Victoria.
• Initiated the Study Melbourne Sector Briefings, establishing a key platform that provides ongoing market intelligence, information, and advice to Victorian education providers.

• Managed Victorian Government relations with the Middle East and Africa, overseeing economic, social, and diplomatic engagements, and building strong relationships with their diplomatic representatives in Australia.
• Provided key economic and political analyses on developments in MEA, guiding Victoria’s economic engagement strategies. –
• Organised and facilitated ministerial and senior government delegations to and from MEA, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives.

Achievements:

• Supported over 60 senior delegations from the Middle East invited by the Victorian Government to the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC).
• Facilitated investment opportunities from over 15 companies from the Middle East, particularly from Gulf countries, into Victorian food and wind energy sectors, with an estimated value of over $50 million.
• Coordinated three visits by senior Victorian officials to the Middle East, including the Victorian Governor's visit to Türkiye to participate in ANZAC Day ceremonies.

• Led the development of Victoria’s strategic directions for international education in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and North Asia, focusing on institutional partnerships and international research collaboration.
• Facilitated inbound delegations involving leading scholarship bodies, universities, and vocational sectors in partnership with Victorian education institutions, promoting Victoria’s education sector.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including Austrade, DFAT, foreign government trade offices, Chambers of Commerce, industry associations, and consular representatives, to identify and maximize commercial opportunities for Victorian education providers in the North Asian, South Asian, and MEA markets.

Achievements:

• Led the development and execution of the inaugural Research and Innovation Forum in North Asia—the first of its kind organized by the department. The forum attracted 85 researchers, 12 speakers, and 3 facilitators, resulting in 10 applications for mutual collaboration.
• Supported three familiarization tours involving leading agents, school counselors, and over 20 delegations from different countries to showcase Victoria's world-leading education quality and infrastructure, successfully attracting international students.

• Acted as the key contact for the Victorian Government’s Family Violence Secretaries Board Subcommittee and Interdepartmental Committee, collaborating with senior executives across Victorian departments to coordinate positions on various aspects of the reform.
• Co-led the development of a Baseline Report to assess the effectiveness of the Victorian Government’s $2.9 billion investment in family violence reform.
• Led Victorian Government relations with the independent Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor, responsible for holding the government accountable for implementing its flagship family violence reform.

Achievements

• Published the Family Violence Outcomes Framework Baseline Report, one of the first evidence-based reports using data to evaluate the impact of reforms on individuals over the past year. This report shifted the focus from project outputs to meaningful outcomes.

• Provided policy analysis and trade reports supporting Australia’s broader diplomatic and commercial engagement in Southeast Asia
• Worked with Australian companies across sectors to enhance their capabilities in engaging with and navigating the complexities of Asian markets.
• Supported the coordination of the Australia-ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Program, fostering startup community connections between Australia and Southeast Asian countries.

Achievement

• Contributed to the development of a series of *Doing Business* reports, a vital guide for Australian companies seeking to export to Asia

• Conducted qualitative and quantitative research on the “Integration of Migrant Communities in Victoria” project, designing research methodology, developing questionnaires, and conducting in-depth interviews.
• Authored a report for the Victorian Government on how to better engage with Muslim communities, leading to increased funding for local councils and enhanced support for local media outlets.

• Managed Afghanistan’s diplomatic and economic relations with the Middle East and Africa, working closely with Afghan embassies in the region to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
• Supported leading delegations from the Middle East visiting Afghanistan and facilitated official Afghan visits to the Middle East to maximize opportunities for bilateral collaboration.
• Conducted political analysis on South and East Asia, monitoring news outlets, reviewing internal cables, and reporting key issues of significance to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs