Vipunjit Ketunuti

Master of International Relations (1996)

As an Assistant Project Officer for the UNICEF's Thailand Country Office, Vipunjit was heavily involved with the tsunami relief effort from the very beginning. She saw first hand the destruction caused by the tsunami, arriving in the south of Thailand just days after the disaster occurred.

As part of her role at UNICEF, Vipunjit plans and manages programs that help build the capacity of communities affected by the tsunami. These programs focus on a wide range of issues, such as HIV/AIDS, education, child protection, health, nutrition, water and sanitation. For Vipunjit these duties are more than just a job.

"I enjoy working for UNICEF, a non-profit organisation under the United Nations that works solely for humanitarian causes. On a personal level, I enjoy working in the field, being close to people in the community, to have the opportunity to listen to social problems and being able to make a difference," states Vijunpit.

In addition to the tsunami relief Vipunjit coordinates technical cooperation among developing countries in South and Southeast Asia , particularly for issues relating to women and children. She has also worked with children in armed conflict and displaced persons in refugee camps along the Thailand-Myanmar border.

Vipunjit initially wanted to become a diplomat after graduating from UOW with a Master of International Relations - a path many of her fellow classmates have since followed in Australia and South Pacific countries. However a six-month journey around Australia changed her perspective on life, cementing in her mind the decision to pursue a career in the humanitarian field.

Fortunately Vipunjit's UOW degree provided a broad education, opening up many career options and allowing her to work for charity and non-profit organisations like the British Council, a German political foundation and now UNICEF.

"Some of the skills I obtained from the course included diplomacy, how to keep updated with what is going on in the world, organisational behaviour and how to mix with people of different backgrounds. All skills I use everyday in my job," explains Vipunjit.

Last reviewed: 23 December, 2008