Asha Chand

Background

About Asha Chand

Associate Professor Asha Chand is an internationally awarded collaborator, educator, trainer, journalist and researcher.Her global leadership in promoting transformative education and collaboration with industry and university partners has positioned her at a crossroads where governments, institutions and industry recognise and seek her expertise to drive impactful projects for change. In 2024 she was awarded $459,339 by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to tackle critical development challenges in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. She established a global network and mentored 12 academics, think tank specialists, journalists and change-makers from WSU partners in India, Indonesia and Fiji and trained them on ethical, responsible journalism and digital media storytelling to improve grassroots livelihoods.Asha has a combined experience of 40 years in global tertiary education leadership, news, staff, resources and newsroom management. She is skilled in high level networking across industry, business and academia.On July 23, 2025 Associate Professor Chand received the Indian Overseas Prize and gold medal at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C, USA, for flying India’s flag high as an educator and facilitator of global networks in the tertiary sector.On January 25, 2023 Asha was awarded the Nav Rattan (nine jewels) of India, in Delhi. She is among nine other people from several million Non Resident Indians (NRIs) across the globe to receive this honour on the eve of India’s Republic Day. Asha's focus is building strong foundations for education for a better world. She is an education professional with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) on Media, Culture, Migration and Marriage from Western Sydney University, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK. She received international recognition for her journalism, research, and community engagement at the House of Commons in London with the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Samman award in 2018, followed by the Hind Rattan (jewel of India) in 2019 in Delhi, on the eve of India's Republic Day. She is a recipient of two Australian national awards for excellence and innovation in teaching - Journalism Education Research Association of Australia (2021) and Carrick Australia Awards (2006). Asha won the Vice Chancellor's excellence in teaching award at WSU in 2015 for her role in developing hybrid online courses.