Meryl Williams Fellowship empowers ASEAN women in ag research

A new group of women agricultural researchers from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and Timor-Leste are strengthening their leadership and management skills through the ACIAR Meryl Williams Fellowship (MWF) program.  

A recent commencement workshop for the 2025 program brought together women working in agriculture, fisheries and forestry science, including an alumnus of the 2020 cohort who has returned as a mentor. They spoke about their reasons for participating in the program, and how they hope to have impact in the future. 

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Dr Nguyen Le Trang wants to advocate for inclusive research environments 

Dr Nguyen Le Trang is one of the new fellowship cohort. She is Principal Researcher and Senior Officer at Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences. In that role, she leads projects on sustainable agriculture, circular economy agricultural practices and organic farming systems.  

She aims to drive improvements in farming practices through innovative approaches to farming, including organic farming strategies. 

Dr Nguyen sees the fellowship program as an opportunity to grow as a leader in her field and contribute more effectively to gender equity. 

‘I hope to develop advanced leadership, communication and strategic planning skills,’ said Dr Nguyen. 

‘I’m particularly interested in learning how to navigate institutional barriers to gender equity and apply inclusive leadership approaches in my work. I want to use my leadership skills to mentor young researchers, advocate for inclusive research environments, and lead projects that integrate sustainability with social responsibility. 

‘I hope to gain guidance from our mentors on managing complex challenges, balancing leadership roles with research work, and expanding my influence beyond national boundaries. 

‘By equipping women with tools and support networks, the program helps us become visible, capable leaders who can shape agricultural research and policy in Vietnam.’ 

Dr Maria Cresilda M Caning is mentoring future women leaders 

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A key component of the MWF is a mentoring program, where fellows are matched with a mentor to provide support and guidance as they build skills and networks. As a graduate of the 2020 fellowship program, Dr Maria Cresilda M Caning is one of 7 ACIAR alumni returning to mentor the 2025 candidates. 

Dr Caning is Associate Professor at the College of Economics and Management, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture in the Philippines. Part of her research is to study technology adoption, leadership and innovation by women entrepreneurs in agriculture. 

As an alumnus of the program, Dr Caning said she feels blessed to have had the opportunity to grow and expand her networks and knowledge. She has forged strong friendships with other members of her cohort, which have continued beyond their training and have helped to establish the Women Empowerment and Leadership in Agriculture international conferences. 

‘As an educator and a researcher in one of the state universities in my country, I view participation in this leadership program as important for women,’ said Dr Caning. 

‘It has been a dream [of mine] to help empower women in rural communities, and I believe this program is important in leading me in that direction.’ 

This includes seeing the outputs of women’s research translated into tangible outcomes, such as research publications, extension activities to benefit communities and industry, and entrepreneurial initiatives that will help empower and support women.