On 6^th  February 2020, Ms. Lada Phumas, Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs, welcomed H.E.
Mr. Taha Macpherson, Ambassador of New Zealand to Thailand to deliver a special lecture on Thai – New Zealand Relations” at the Devawongse Varopakarn Institute of Foreign Affairs (DVIFA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. The Ambassador addressed participants of the Advanced Oral Communication Course (AOCC) Intake 16 as a part of their pre-departure training for phase 2 of the course, which takes place at Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology New Zealand.

             H.E. Mr. Taha Macpherson provided input on the sixty-four years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and New Zealand, with a particular focus on the educational aspect of bilateral  relations between the two countries. He then fielded questions from the participants on New Zealand’s regional policy stances, bilateral relations with Thailand, and general questions about what the AOCC participants might encounter during their 3-week study visit in New Zealand. Both the director and the participants appreciated the depth H.E. Taha Macpherson went into in responding to all the questions posted to him.

             DVIFA has organized the AOCC for the last 9 years in cooperation with Victoria University of Wellington and Auckland University of Technology, both leading universities of New Zealand. The AOCC course has been designed to enhance professional level public speaking skills, express opinions in meetings and build powerful negotiation skill. In addition, it is intended to raise awareness of international culture and build networks with the public and private sectors of New Zealand.