School of Culture, History & Language

When Anna Naupa submitted her PhD thesis, she became the first ni-Vanuatu person to earn a doctorate from ANU. Now, she has reached another historic milestone as the first woman and first ni-Vanuatu appointed Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Her journey, guided by the concept of “kastom roads”, highlights the power of Indigenous knowledge, diplomacy and cultural leadership.

Read her story: https://chl.anu.edu.au/news/following-kastom-roads-anna-naupa-becomes-first-ni-vanuatu-phd-graduate-anu

Asia & the Pacific at ANU The Australian National University ANU Alumni ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs Pacific Manuscripts Bureau ANU Alumni Study ANU CHL HDR Students PhD students National Archives & Library of Vanuatu

🎉 Congratulations to Anna Naupa, CHL PhD graduate and the first ni-Vanuatu PhD graduate from ANU.

What a remarkable achievement—and one that is richly deserved. We are incredibly proud to see Anna's contributions to research, education and her community recognised in this way.

Anna's journey reflects the power of education, perseverance and a commitment to creating positive change for future generations.

Watch this space for Anna's story, coming soon!



ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs Asia & the Pacific at ANU The Australian National University ANU Alumni Department of Pacific Affairs Australian High Commission, Vanuatu ANU Pacific Institute

‼️VANUATU RISES AT MSG — CONGRATULATIONS ANNA NAUPA‼️🇻🇺

Today, Vanuatu stands proud.

Dr. Anna Naupa — one of our nation’s finest minds and respected leader in development — has been appointed Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

This is a historic moment. Since the MSG was founded in 1986 by the giants of Melanesia — Paias Wingti of Papua New Guinea, Fr. Walter Lini of Vanuatu, Ezekiel Alebua of Solomon Islands, and our brothers from the FLNKS — Vanuatu has waited 40 years to lead this organization. Today, that wait ends.

As a woman taking the helm, Ms. Naupa’s appointment sends a clear message to every young ni-Vanuatu girl: aspire for the best, because the highest offices in our region are within your reach. Her leadership will inspire a new generation to dream bigger and serve boldly.

The Vanuatu Government holds immense confidence in Dr. Naupa’s capabilities, leadership, and integrity. We commend the MSG and the selection team for a transparent process that has delivered the right leader for this moment.

Prime Minister Jotham Napat extends his warmest congratulations to Dr. Naupa on her successful appointment. He wishes her strength, wisdom, and every success as she takes up this critical role.

We know the MSG was born from struggle — its heart has always been the political aspirations of the Kanak people and the big issues facing Melanesia. Over the years the organization has grown, expanding its focus to trade, sports, culture, and other areas of common interest that bind our nations. Vanuatu believes the success of the MSG under Dr. Naupa’s leadership will depend on never losing sight of that founding spirit — solidarity, justice, and self-determination for our peoples.

Anna, you carry not just a title, but the hopes of a region. You carry Vanuatu’s pride, Melanesia’s trust, and the spirit of Fr. Walter Lini’s vision.

Go well, lead boldly, and make Melanesia shine.

Congratulations, Director General Dr. Anna Naupa🇻🇺👏👏👏

- Office of the Prime Minister
Republic of Vanuatu

“What do they think of us?”

It was a question that stayed with CHL PhD candidate Tulsi Rajyaguru long after a meeting with philanthropists and funders had ended.

Not because philanthropists misunderstood the organisations they funded, but because their understanding and focus differed so greatly from hers — shaped by their own subjective interactions, personal experiences and assumptions about the people and communities they hoped to help.

After years working in Melbourne’s civil society sector, Tulsi became fascinated by the different ways philanthropists, foundations and not-for-profit organisations understand one another. Those questions now sit at the heart of her PhD research at ANU.

Her work explores how people navigate what they know — and don’t know — about each other during the process of giving and receiving funding, and how those understandings shape philanthropic relationships.

Read more about her research journey:
https://chl.anu.edu.au/interview/reading-between-lines-philanthropy

Asia & the Pacific at ANU Study ANU ANU Alumni The Australian National University CHL HDR Students PhD students ANU Schmidtposting

What do you do with a lifetime of books?

For CHL alum Dr Matthew Spriggs, the answer was simple: give them a new life in Vanuatu.

What followed was an extraordinary effort involving colleagues, friends and families across the world. The result? More than 9,000 books now housed in the Vanuatu National Library, including rare works on Pacific languages, archaeology and history. Some volumes travelled across continents. Others arrived with handwritten notes and stories of their own.

A reminder that knowledge isn't meant to sit still—it moves, connects and endures.

Read More: https://chl.anu.edu.au/news/library-transit-how-9000-books-found-their-way-vanuatu

Asia & the Pacific at ANU The Australian National University Study ANU ANU Alumni ANU School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs ANU Anthropology National Archives & Library of Vanuatu

Join Associate Professor Larissa Schneider (Australian National University) for an upcoming Women in Soil Science–Australia Seminar Series event:

“Science Meets History: Soil Chemical Legacies of Mining and Colonisation”

This seminar explores how historical mining and colonisation have shaped soil contamination and environmental systems across the Southern Hemisphere. Drawing on case studies from Australia and South America, the presentation highlights the long-term environmental consequences of resource extraction and emerging approaches to remediation and sustainable land management.

🗓️ Wednesday, 27 May 2026
🕛 12pm-1pm AEST
📍 Online

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/women-in-soil-science-australia-seminar-series-associate-professor-larissa-schneider

It’s not every day the Nutbush echoes through a rural village in Dali, Yunnan, China.

As part of ANU’s ASIA3220: Chinese Language Training and Rural China Field Study program, students stepped beyond the classroom to experience life in local communities — from homestays and shared meals to conversations under unfamiliar skies.

For many, the experience challenged assumptions and revealed a side of China not often seen — one shaped by community, daily life, and meaningful connections.

Three weeks, countless perspectives, and an experience that stays with you long after the journey ends.

Discover the full ASIA3220 story here：
https://chl.anu.edu.au/interview/rural-china-close

Australian Centre on China in the World Asia & the Pacific at ANU ANU Alumni The Australian National University ANU Student Life Study ANU

Rural China, Up Close | School of Culture, History & Language Capturing the spirit of ASIA3220: Chinese Language Training and Rural China Field Study — a three-week field school combining intensive Mandarin classes in Dali

What a splash! Reliving every moment of the CHL's New Year Water Festival 🇲🇲✨

Swipe through to see the highlights from our Thingyan celebration, the dancing, the food, the games, and the gorgeous community that made it all happen.

Celebrate International Chinese Language Day on April 20.

Chinese is one of the world’s oldest continuously used writing systems, with a history spanning thousands of years. Its characters often carry meaning as well as sound, and have supported the use of written Chinese across different regions over time.

At ANU, studying Chinese offers the opportunity to engage with both the language
and the cultural contexts in which it has developed.
Learn more:
https://chl.anu.edu.au/language-modern-chinese

Every April, millions of people across Southeast Asia ring in the New Year with water, music, and dancing. This Friday, we're bringing that celebration to ANU.

Come experience the Myanmar Water Festival (Thingyan) with us, live performances, traditional games, and delicious Myanmar food await!

Free entry. Everyone is welcome!!

📅 Friday 17 April, 4–6pm
📍 Coombs Tea Room, HC Coombs Building, ANU

Waiting for the day — Immersia awaits our collaboration :) which nearly happened in 2025!