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Welcome to the 3rd Australia-Bhutan Research Conference 2025


Thimphu Bhutan Conference

The Royal University of Bhutan, in partnership with the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Canberra, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia, is pleased to announce the 3rdAustralia–Bhutan Research Conference (ABRC) 2025, to be held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 3rd – 5th December 2025.

The ABRC 2025 aspires to connect Bhutanese Higher Degree Research (HDR) students and academics in Australia and elsewhere with scholars, policymakers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and institutions in Bhutan and Australia. It provides a platform to reflect on the transformative power of collaborative research that integrates cultural depth, technological innovation, and holistic development paradigms. The Conference particularly aims to leverage the collective expertise and experiences of scholars to address pressing national and global challenges while fostering academic and cultural exchange and partnerships not just between Australia and Bhutan, but globally.

The ABRC 2025 also celebrates Bhutan’s global leadership in pioneering Gross National Happiness (GNH) and the visionary development of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), as a model for contemplative innovation and urban transformation, positioning Bhutan as a unique location for global research and intellectual discourses.

The conference is being organised as part of the commemoration of the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

Welcome Note from the Vice Chancellor

Chewang Rinzin
Chewang Rinzin
Vice Chancellor, RUB

It gives me great pleasure to warmly welcome all interested and aspiring participants to the 3rd Australia–Bhutan Research Conference (ABRC) 2025, to be held in Thimphu, Bhutan, from 3rd to 5th December 2025. Organised by the Royal University of Bhutan in partnership with the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Canberra, and Australia government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), this conference is an important milestone in our shared journey to deepen academic and research collaboration between Bhutan and Australia, and to engage with global scholars in meaningful ways.

The ABRC 2025 comes at a critical time when the world is seeking new ways to understand development, sustainability, and the human condition. Bhutan, with its unique development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH) and the visionary undertaking of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), offers fertile ground for inquiry, dialogue, and innovation that is deeply rooted in the values of compassion, balance, and holistic well-being.

This year’s conference aspires to be more than just an academic gathering. It is a unique platform to connect Bhutanese Higher Degree Research (HDR) students and academics based in Australia and around the world with local scholars, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and institutions, to reflect on the transformative potential of collaborative research. We believe that when research is informed by cultural depth and guided by collective wisdom, it can powerfully shape systems and societies for the better. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research that addresses both local and global challenges—from climate change and digital transformation to education, health, governance, and cultural resilience. The conference also seeks to foster long-term partnerships between academic institutions, stimulate meaningful dialogue, and promote research as a cornerstone of innovation and nation-building.

We are honoured to host this conference as part of the commemoration of the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the founder of our university, whose leadership and vision have inspired generations of Bhutanese and shaped the modern identity of Bhutan. I invite scholars, researchers, and thought leaders from Bhutan, Australia, and beyond to be a part of ABRC 2025. Let us come together to share ideas, challenge assumptions, co-create knowledge, and strengthen Bhutan’s emerging research landscape—so that our collective wisdom can serve humanity in more meaningful ways.

Tashi Delek and welcome to ABRC 2025

Welcome from the Ambassador of Bhutan to Australia

His Excellency Sonam Tobgay
H.E. Mr Sonam Tobgay
Ambassador of Bhutan to Australia

We are delighted to announce that the Royal University of Bhutan in partnership with the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in Canberra and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will organize the third edition of the Australia - Bhutan Research Conference (ABRC) on the theme “Bridging Knowledge, Innovation and Policy: Harnessing the Power of Research”, scheduled from 3rd to 5th December 2025 in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Building on the momentum of the first Conference held at the University of Sydney in 2023 and the second at Edith Cowan University in Perth in 2024, the ABRC is evolving into a meaningful platform for recognizing the growing body of research by Bhutanese scholars in Australia and beyond, while deepening academic and cultural linkages between Bhutan and Australia.

The Conference will aim to bring together Bhutanese Higher Degree Research (HDR) students and academics in Australia and abroad with scholars, policymakers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and institutions from Bhutan, Australia and around the world. It will invite them to explore pressing national and global issues through the Conference’s thematic areas ranging from innovation in higher education and digital mindfulness to ecology, GNH-driven economic futures and STEM for societal impact.

This year’s Conference in Bhutan will be especially meaningful as it will also commemorate the 70th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck, whose visionary leadership continues to inspire Bhutan’s unique development path of Gross National Happiness.

We, once again, encourage all interested scholars to register and participate in the Conference, and contribute to building a dynamic and transnational research community committed to mutual learning, global engagement and finding solutions to common challenges.

We look forward to welcoming you to Bhutan in December!

Welcome from the Australian Government

His Excellency Sonam Tobgay
H.E. Mr Philip Green
Ambassador of Australia to Bhutan

On behalf of the Australian Government, I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to all participants to the 3rd Australia-Bhutan Research Conference.

This conference represents a valuable opportunity to bring together knowledge and innovation through the power of research between Australia and Bhutan. It’s also an opportunity to deepen the academic and institutional linkages between our countries, and to celebrate the enduring people-to-people ties that underpin our bilateral relationship. The collaboration between the Royal Bhutanese Embassy, the Royal University of Bhutan, and Australian institutions reflects our shared commitment to fostering inclusive, knowledge-driven development and regional cooperation.

Australia is proud to support initiatives that promote innovation, research exchange, and mutual understanding. We are more effective when we work together; the conference enables Australian-Bhutanese collaboration to address emerging challenges in a complex world. In line with Australia’s development cooperation priorities in Bhutan, this includes strengthening human capacity through education and skills development, fostering inclusive economic growth, and supporting climate resilience and disaster preparedness. These efforts reflect our broader vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, grounded in genuine partnership and mutual respect.

We commend the organisers for their dedication in bringing together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from across both countries and beyond. We look forward to the insights and partnerships that will emerge from this important gathering.

ABRC 2025 Welcome

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ABRC 2025 Welcome

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