Vo Thi Hoang Yen

From childhood, due to the effects of polio, Vo Thi Hoang Yen has used crutches and a wheelchair in her daily life. Her experiences of social barriers and discrimination became a driving force behind her commitment to pursuing education and a professional career, and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion for people with disabilities.

In 2001, she got a Ford Foundation scholarship to undertake a Master’s degree in Human Development at the University of Kansas (USA), and later completed a PhD in Social Work at La Trobe University (Australia). Her doctoral research on raising awareness towards students with disabilities has been used as teaching material and was invited for presentation at the World Bank headquarters.

In Viet Nam, she founded the Disability and Development Program, which later became DRD. Since 2005, DRD has provided needs-based, comprehensive support to approximately 25,000 people with disabilities. She also founded the “Nguoi Ban Dong Hanh” (Companion) scholarship programme for students with disabilities, along with several other pioneering initiatives in disability inclusion in Viet Nam.

Vo Thi Hoang Yen is one of two recipients of the Kazuo Itoga Memorial Prize 2009 for her contribution to disability communities in the Asia–Pacific region. At the Australia Alumni Awards 2023, she received the Women in Leadership Award in recognition of her positive role in strengthening Vietnam-Australia relations.