Thomson Ch'ng

Alumni stories

Thomson Chng

From student to champion of NSW’s international education

Thomson is an alumnus from Malaysia who graduated from Navitas - Curtin University Sydney with a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Management) and Master of Science (Project Management) in 2016. He speaks English, Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hainanese and Hokkien and lives in Sydney.

Why did you choose NSW? 


 I was born and raised in a town called Butterworth in the State of Penang, Malaysia. I lost my mother at an early age and suffered from depression. Prior to her passing, both she and my father worked hard for me to study abroad. A family friend who lives in Sydney also encouraged and motivated me to consider the city as a study destination. He gave me a beautiful wooden souvenir of Sydney Harbour which lit the spark for my dream to study in Sydney. 

 What was the highlight? 

The supportive lecturers and staff, and wonderful classmates and friends. 

How have you benefitted from studying in NSW? 

Getting the opportunity to connect with people from around the world from Asia to Africa, Europe and the Americas. All in one place! 

The beautiful beaches, weather, the multicultural food and the mountains have added so much vibrancy to the lifestyle, making life after work so much better.  

NSW is an economic powerhouse and the leading state of Australia. I can feel the passion and energy from the people on the street, especially in the Central Business District (CBD) where our office is located. It’s an inspiring place to work.  

 Where are you working now? 

I feel so lucky to be working with Study NSW as Project Officer – Advocacy and Engagement. Since my student days, I’ve always been passionate about creating a positive experience for international students in Australia.  

 Landing this role has been a dream come true for me. Every day I get to exercise my ongoing passion and interest in both the international education and public sector. This is such a great place to create a positive impact on the lives of international students.  

The team’s positive and goal-driven culture, strong leadership and having a great manager are the reasons I’m jumping out of bed every morning eagerly wanting to start my day at work.  

Can you share any career advice for current students or graduates? 

 Everyone has a purpose in life. Once you have found it, you’ll find your passion. If properly directed, you’ll be unstoppable!