Learning Across Continents: Current Challenges, Future Opportunities

Event Overview

Join us for an enlightening panel discussion exploring Australia-Latin America connections in education and migration! 

Learning Across Continents: Current Challenges, Future Opportunities, will delve into the current issues and future prospects in this evolving field, bringing together a diverse group of students, academics, young entrepreneurs, and members of the Latin American community in Victoria. Attendees are invited to join us for networking over light refreshments following the discussion.

Arrival + Networking: 6:00pm - 6:30pm

Panel Discussion + Q&A: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Networking: 8:00pm - 8:30pm

Context

In Australia, education and migration are closely intertwined, with education serving as a major export and a key driver of economic growth. Traditionally, international students in Australia have predominantly come from Asian countries. However, recent trends show that Colombia and Brazil are now among the top six sources of international students. Despite this growing diversity, the relationship between education and migration is complex and presents several challenges.

Why Attend?

This event provides a unique platform to gain insights into the complexities of educational and migratory relationships, engage with experts, and contribute to discussions shaping future policies and practices. Join us as we unpack the opportunities from Latin American and Australian students looking to study across the region, the benefits of international education, and how to overcome potential challenges.

About our Sponsor

This event is proudly sponsored by Gamba Migration and Education, a group of expert advisors in Migration and International Education founded in Melbourne during 2020. 

With offices in Adelaide, Melbourne and Bogota (Colombia), their mission is to provide the tools and support necessary for their clients to fulfil their dreams in Australia, whether to study, work temporarily or settle permanently.

About the Hosts

Learning Across Continents: Current Challenges, Future Opportunities is a collaboration by the Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue, Latin Stories Australia and La Trobe University. 

The Australia Latam Emerging Leaders Dialogue (ALELD) is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders by promoting sustainable cooperation between Australia and Latin America. Since its inception in 2018, ALELD has facilitated numerous dialogues and networking events, expanding its reach across 10 countries with over 150 members.

Latin Stories Australia (LSA) is a leading organisation committed to celebrating the voices and contributions of Latin American migrant communities in Australia. Over the past decade, LSA has organised around 100 workshops, events, and talks, advocating for multiculturalism and social cohesion while raising awareness of Latin America’s rich cultural contributions to Australia.

La Trobe University has been one of Australia's pioneering universities for more than 50 years. The third university to open in Victoria, it has grown to accommodate over 28,000 students at our Melbourne Campus and over 7,500 at our campuses in Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, Mildura, Melbourne City (Collins Street), Shepparton and Sydney. La Trobe’s engagement with Latin America in goes back to its early days and remains vibrant today in research and teaching and learning

About the Speakers

Moderator - Dr Victor Del Rio

Dr Victor Del Rio is an expert in Science, Technology and Education Strategy who has worked in the last 35 years in several projects to bring Australia and Latin America closer together. Victor has published research in both Australia and Mexico on LATAM’s Migration in Australia and New Zealand and on LATAM Diasporas around the Globe. He participated in the Senate Inquiry examining the relationship between these regions, formed part of the induction program for Australian Ambassadors appointed in Mexico, invited to participate in Political Dialogues between Australia and Mexico. Victor is the President of ANZMEX Australia. Victor is currently involved in a Big Science project to build a Synchrotron in the Greater Caribbean region and a seminal project to bring iconic Australian organisations to build a united front to advance the relationship between our adopted and mother countries strategically. He is a Senior Research Industry Fellow at the RMIT University.

Panellist - Daniel Escobar

Daniel is Gamba Migration’s Chief Operating Officer (COO). He oversees the company’s operations, including migration, education consultancy, IT, Accounting, Marketing management, and process optimization. Daniel is instrumental in managing Gamba Migration’s client services, ensuring compliance, and advancing the company’s digital infrastructure.Daniel joined Gamba Migration in 2019 as a Migration Consultant and later took on roles as Migration Manager and IT Manager. Prior to Gamba Migration, Daniel worked at Banco Davivienda in Colombia from 2008 to 2018, where he held various roles in commercial management and technology infrastructure.

Panellist - Angel Calderon

Angel is Director, Strategic Insights at RMIT University. Angel has worked in institutional research and planning over the past 30 years in several Australian universities. He has also worked as a journalist and foreign correspondent in several countries. Angel is a regular speaker on international forums on global megatrends, university rankings, internationalisation, strategy and development. He is co-editor of a book on institutional research and planning in higher education published by Routledge, and has authored several reports, journal articles and book chapters in geopolitics of higher education, global rankings, sustainable development and university alliances.

Panellist - Lorena Rios

Lorena Rios is an accomplished international development professional and community advocate with over a decade of experience across Latin America, Qatar, and Australia. Her expertise spans the private sector, government, and NGOs, collaborating with organizations like the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), DFAT, Education Above All Foundation and Delivery Associates Ltd. Lorena has led numerous projects that address critical issues such as ethnic minorities, rural youth empowerment, multicultural communities, and sustainable development. Equipped with a Master of Development Studies from the University of Melbourne, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to create transformative change through strategic partnerships, stakeholder management, and innovative program design.

Panellist - Constanza Velasquez

Constanza is a recent graduate from a Master of International Relations at Melbourne University. She currently works as a Project Assistant for Latin Stories Australia, organisation where she did her university internship, collaborating with research, grant writing and workshop facilitation for the Latin American community and other multicultural groups in Melbourne. She also currently works at the Faculty of Fine Arts of Melbourne University. assisting with recruitment and advice for future students. She is passionate about migration and gender studies, gender equality and sustainability. She looks forward to keep supporting the Latin American community in Australia.

Virtual Opening Address - Jorge Gamba

Jorge is a registered migration agent and founder of Gamba Migration, established in 2020. Based in Melbourne, Australia, he specialises in helping clients navigate the complexities of Australian immigration law. Jorge holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Sydney and is a registered agent with more than 6 years of experience. His deep legal expertise, combined with his international perspective and multilingual skills, makes him a trusted advisor for clients from diverse cultural backgrounds, ensuring a client-centred approach to achieving their migration and education goals.