Mia Hyun is an international gender and inclusive development specialist with more than 30 years of experience across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, South Asia, and Africa. Her work spans Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, Micronesia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Kenya. She has worked with multilateral, bilateral, and non-governmental organisations including DFAT, UN Women, USAID, UNDP, UNIDO, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, European Union, Peace Corps, Oxfam, ActionAid, and The Asia Foundation. Mia advises governments and development partners on gender and gender-based violence policy reform, evidence-based social policy, institutional capacity strengthening, and national and sectoral gender and inclusion assessments. Her doctoral research examines violence against women policy reform in ASEAN through the lenses of gendered governance, institutions, and political will.
Mia holds a PhD in International Development from the University of Birmingham, an MSc in Applied Economics with Distinction from the University of London through Imperial College and SOAS, and an MBA/Master’s in Public Sector Management from Boston University. In 2026, she received the University of Birmingham Research and Impact Award for Exceptional Contribution from a Doctoral Researcher, recognising the quality and reach of her research. Her recent international speaking engagements include the Beijing+30 EU Delegation in China, Mahidol University’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, and major conferences on gender, sexuality, governance, and public administration. In 2025, she received the Best Session Presentation Award at the International Conference on Gender and Sexuality for her research on violence against women policy reform in Cambodia. Her work combines rigorous research with practical policy engagement to advance gender equality, inclusive governance, and sustainable development.
