Thomas Soem

Thomas Soem is the Acting Chief Executive Officer of Asia Society Australia and responsible for driving the strategy to become Australia’s leading business and policy think-tank and membership organisation dedicated to Asia. He is also the Executive Director of the Sydney office and head of business development. He is contributing to a significant growth in new members, diversification of funding streams and expansion of the national footprint.

Previously, Thomas was the Head of International Research and Development at the University of Sydney. In this role, he managed international research and development projects for the University in Asia and gave strategic advice on international growth, funding opportunities and global partnerships, including in China, Vietnam and India. He secured funding for over 100 projects for the University from national and international agencies, including the Australian Government, the United Nations, the European Commission, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank. He drafted University’s submissions to major government consultations including the Asian Century White Paper, and had representative roles with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and the Australia-Indonesia Centre. Prior to that, Thomas was International Programs Manager at the Research Institute for Asia and the Pacific, leading the institute’s executive education program with China.

Thomas is a graduate from the University of Oslo, Norway and the University of Sydney where he studied political science and languages with particular focus on multilateral cooperation and regional integration in Asia.