Publications Adviser
Robin Burms (Dr)
Robin Burns has a PhD in Comparative Education as well as qualifications in Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology and Public Health, and was a brief time in the Australian Diplomatic Service. She taught across development, peace, multicultural, women’s and health education and has considerable experience in development and peace international NGOs. She is the author of almost 100 articles, and the book “’Just tell them I survived!’ Women in Antarctica”. Additionally, she co- edited “Three Decades of Peace Education around the World” (with Robert Aspeslagh) and “Contemporary Perspectives on Comparative Education” (with Anthony Welch). After supervising many post-graduate students, in ‘retirement’ she enjoys mentoring young researchers.
Conference General Manager
Morgan Macdonald, Master of Arts, Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development, Australian National University
Morgan Macdonald has recently returned from Myanmar where he worked for four years as a curriculum developer with Mote Oo Education, an organisation producing context appropriate materials and services for the adult education sector in Myanmar and Myanmar’s border areas. He spent considerable time travelling throughout Myanmar to speak with a wide range of teachers and other educators to produce two social science textbooks for Myanmar learners: ASEAN: A Social Science Course for ASEAN Citizens and the forthcoming Research Skills. Prior to working in Myanmar he worked in Cambodia for three years with land rights and a women’s rights NGOs. He has a Master’s Degree in Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development from Australian National University.
Resource Mobilisation Adviser
Cathy Kyi Kyi Win Oo, Executive Master in Developmental Studies, Graduate Institute of Geneva
Cathy Kyi Kyi Win Oo started her career in the private sector, but turned to developmental service in response to Cycle Nargis. She obtained Executive Master in Developmental Studies from the Graduate Institute of Geneva while co founding BusinessKind Myanmar. In 2013 Cathy moved to Hong Kong becoming the director of Hong Kong Myanmar Chamber of Commerce. She leads youth leadership skill training and exchange courses for Hong Kong, Taiwan and Myanmar Youths and supports a high school boarding home program in the Irradwaddy delta.
Youth Outreach Coordinator
Kirsty Dempsey, Master of International Relation, University of Melbourne
Management
Executive Administrator
May Kyel Winn, Master of Translating and Interpreting, RMIT University
May Kyel Winn is AMI’s Executive Administrator, responsible to the Director for the day-to-day management of the Institute. She also supports the Institute’s relationships with academic, business and NGO stakeholders in Myanmar and Australia, and with the diaspora in Australia.
She holds a Master’s degree in Translating and Interpreting from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, a Bachelor’s degree from the Institute of Economics (Yangon) and an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from the Association of Business Executives (UK). Prior to migrating to Australia, she was responsible for office administration and management at the British Council’s English Language Teaching Centre in Yangon. She worked for the British Council for 15 years in a variety of roles, most recently as English Operations Manager. In these roles, May Kyel built trust with the British Council’s long-term partners, including government ministries, businesses, NGOs and a wide range of Myanmar and international personalities.