The Navitas Business Partners Conference 2025: Day 2
Day 2 (13th September) of the Navitas Business Partners Conference 2025 commenced back in the conference ballroom, with an energetic welcome from the day’s conference MC, Brittany Adams, Navitas General Manager Marketing and Recruitment, EU and LATAM.
The first session saw Vikas Panjwani, Global Head of Strategy, return to the stage to host a panel discussion on, ‘The Student Value Proposition: Are we delivering on expectations?’.
Studying abroad is a significant time in a student’s and their family’s life. It involves financial and emotional investment, and today’s shifting landscape is testing its worth. Rising costs, tougher job markets, changing policies, and more limited migration pathways are reshaping what students experience before, during and after studying overseas.
This session asked attendees to step into the shoes of students to ask: has the value proposition of international education evolved to meet these new realities? The session also took a closer look at the higher education sector to see if it was keeping pace with student expectations in an era of rapid change.
The second session of the day saw Navitas University Partnership Australasia (UPA) General Manager Sales & Marketing, Michelle Von Karlowitz, joined on stage by special guest Thao Tam to discuss, ‘How best to speak to the next generation of students’.
Tam is an actress and popular Vietnamese education influencer, well-known among Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences. She is recognised for her academic achievements, speaks fluent English, has appeared on multiple seasons of the ‘IELTS Face-off’ program, and was nominated for the ‘Best Supporting Actress Award’ in 2020 for her role in the Vietnamese TV show, Mat Biec. Tam began her career at age 17 as an MC host and collaborator with VTV, and she remains passionate about inspiring and educating younger generations through her significant social media reach – 316K followers on Instagram, and 121K followers on TikTok.
Tam’s dynamic speaking style delivered a thought-provoking session with Michelle, where they discussed the most effective way to engage and market education to Generation Alpha, the next generation of students—a topic of increasing importance to the education sector.
After enjoying a lovely morning tea spread, attendees returned to the Ballroom for a session with Director Corporate Communications and ESG, Julia Lambo, who hosted one of the most anticipated panel sessions at the conference. The session titled ‘Student Focus’ featured four Navitas alumni students, each representing one of Navitas’ divisions: Max Wang (UPA – Eynesbury College), Ramnique Sandhu (C&I – Charles Sturt University Sydney), Naima Hasan (University Partnership North America – Queens College GSSP), and Anton Satsuk (University Partnership Europe – Lancaster Leipzig).
Attendees were engrossed in the thoroughly engaging discussion where students shared their personal journeys, from how they came to decide on their college or campus, their experience studying abroad at a Navitas college, and how their experiences led them to where they are today. The student panel also explored what “student focus” really means at the campus level, and how the support and opportunities they received shaped their studies.
Most importantly, this session was about giving students the space to open up, tell their stories, and offer their unique perspectives on life at Navitas institutions.
No doubt a highlight of Day 2 was the Keynote Address from Jimmy Pham, Founder/ CEO of KOTO (Know One, Teach One) – a longstanding Navitas Education Trust (NET) partner.
From the streets of Hanoi to founding Vietnam’s first social enterprise, Jimmy spoke about the creation of KOTO and the evolving journey of the nonprofit organisation. To date, KOTO has transformed over 2,000 at-risk youth – turning street kids into scholars, women into leaders, and hunger into hope – through education as their most powerful tool. Jimmy’s story is one of resilience, transformation, and a philosophy that endures: ‘Once helped, help others.
Learn more about the Navitas Education Trust (NET) on the Navitas website.
After a well-deserved lunch break, attendees eagerly gathered in the hotel to learn how they would spend the afternoon. It was time for the surprise Team Building activity to be revealed! Everyone was instructed to put on their aprons, bring out their inner MasterChef, and learn how to cook some delicious Vietnamese cuisine from leading local Chefs.