Asialink Leaders Program 2026 Information Session

Ramanpreet Wadhwa, Principal Consultant & Founder, Sapphire Links Global | 2025 Alumni

Ramanpreet Wadhwa, a business strategist with over 25 years of cross-sector experiences spanning telecommunications, media, publishing, advertising, travel, finance, and business consulting. She is the Founder of Sapphire Links Global, where she helps international organisations land and grow in Australia and supports Australian SMEs as they expand into India, ASEAN, the Indo-Pacific, and emerging global markets.

Raman’s career has taken her across continents and industries. She has worked with Essel Shyam Telecommunications, with New York–based Thomas International Publishing, and with The Economic Times, India’s largest media powerhouse. In Australia, she spent several years at Business NSW, leading member engagement, strategic partnerships, and international trade programs, while working closely with DFAT, Austrade, Investment NSW, and diplomatic missions to open doors for Australian companies abroad.

Her expertise sits at the intersection of market entry strategy, strategic partnerships, B2B business matchmaking, investment facilitation, and government engagement. She is also the creator of the Australia Market Development Toolkit (AMDT™) a framework that gives businesses a clear and confident pathway into new markets.

Ramanpreet is an Asialink Leader (2025) and is known for her ability to connect people, ideas, and opportunities across borders. She holds an MBA in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science and continues to work across Asia and global markets to strengthen Australia’s international business links.

Barış Satar, Director Global Student Recruitment, University of Wollongong Global Enterprises | 2023 Alumni

Barış joined University of Wollongong Global Enterprises (UOWGE) in January 2024 as Director of Global Student Recruitment. With a career spanning international education, global partnerships, and international trade and investment promotion, he brings more than two decades of experience to the role.

He has built a 25-year career across the international education sector and international trade development. As Director, Education Services with the Victorian Government, he supported Victoria’s international education portfolio across priority regions, strengthening government–institution–industry engagement and helping Victorian providers expand their partnerships and visibility in key markets. He later undertook an assignment as Deputy Director of International Education & Study Melbourne, where he contributed to policy work, sector coordination, and global engagement activities during a period of transition for Victoria’s international education strategy.

Across his time in government, Barış strengthened Australia’s international education footprint by driving commercially focused market development initiatives and expanding strategic relationships and sector partnerships in South and Southeast Asia, North Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He worked closely with institutions, government agencies, and industry partners to build collaboration opportunities and particularly support Victoria’s entry and dominance in emerging regions, including Africa.

Earlier in his career, Barış served as a Trade Commissioner for Global Affairs Canada and held senior roles with the Australian Trade Commission in the UAE and Turkey, as well as an assignment in Vietnam. At Macquarie University, he drove significant international enrolment growth as Associate Director of International Programs. He holds a Master’s degree in International Business (with a major in Marketing) from Macquarie University.

Barış’s experience in global market development, international partnerships, and strategic recruitment continues to support UOWGE’s ambitions for international engagement.

Lotta Oberg, Program Director, Asialink Leaders Program, Asialink Business

As Program Director of the Asialink Leaders Program, Charlotta Oberg leads Australia’s flagship program for Asia-capable Leaders, with a distinguished alumni network of more than 1,200, now in its 30th year. She brings two decades of experience across four continents, equipping senior leaders with the Cultural Intelligence to succeed with Asia.

Working across business, government and not-for-profit sectors, prior roles include a cross-cultural consultant to the International Criminal Court, a cultural diversity advisor to the Swedish government, and coaching political leaders on their international engagement. Lotta has lived and worked across Asia, including China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore.

She holds a Masters Degree in Social Science from the University of Uppsala, Sweden, a brain-based coaching qualification focusing on cultural neuroscience and guest lectures in cross-cultural management to universities globally.

Catherine Mudford, Acting CEO, Asialink Business

Catherine Mudford is Acting CEO at Asialink Business, Australia’s National Centre for Asia Capability.

Catherine is a senior business leader with 20+ years’ experience in international business, gained across developed and emerging markets. She has lived in Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore and worked extensively across the Asia region from these bases. Her career to date has included roles on the client side and in consultancy, in the private sector, government and in the education sector. She joined Asialink Business in 2021 leading the development of a series of initiatives to equip Australian businesses with the skills to succeed in fast-changing Asia. This included launching the Asialink Business Academy in 2023 and the publication this year of “Asialink Leaders: 30 Years of Asia success” showcasing stories of business success in Asia and the capabilities that enable that.

Catherine is passionate about helping leaders and organisations build the awareness and insight to help them be successful as they work across borders.

Asialink Leaders Program 2026 Information Session

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