Australian Ambassador Presents OPEC Outstanding International School Student Awards at AISB
Updated: 4 hours ago
His Excellency Mr Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, recognises four AISB students for outstanding achievement across academics, the arts and international competitions.
The Australian International School Bangkok (AISB) was honoured to welcome His Excellency Mr Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, to our Sukhumvit Soi 31 campus on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, for a special ceremony recognising four AISB students in the OPEC Outstanding International School Student Awards 2026.
The awards are presented by Thailand’s Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC), Ministry of Education, and recognise outstanding students from international schools across Thailand for achievements spanning academics, sports, the arts, leadership and other pursuits.
Our School Choir opened the ceremony with Tsuki, meaning “The Moon”, a Japanese folk song performed in recognition of the Japanese families within our school community, followed by Bound for South Australia, reflecting AISB’s Australian heritage.
Celebrating Our Students
Evelyn Intaraphrom was recognised for her outstanding achievements in the Arts. She has competed in international music competitions across Japan, Taiwan and Singapore and, in 2025, received a Plaque of Honour recognising her as an “Outstanding Youth Who Brought Reputation to Thailand.”
Derek Kongkam was recognised for his commitment to academic excellence and achievements in international competitions. His recognition reflects his dedication, application and consistent performance in his academic work.
Katewadee Kongkam received an award for her exceptional academic achievement and success in external international competitions. Her achievements reflect her enthusiasm for learning, resilience and willingness to challenge herself.
Aiyara McWilliam was recognised for creating an outstanding sculpture that brought together learning from Science and Visual Arts and won the Individual category in the Royal Society of Biology (UK) BioArtAttack3D competition. Her work demonstrated creativity, curiosity and the ability to connect ideas across different areas of learning.
The four awards reflected a wide range of student achievement, from academic performance and international competition to music, visual arts and interdisciplinary learning.
A Message for AISB Students
Ambassador Kang shared three key messages with our students about their futures, the world around them and what it means to be part of an Australian school in Thailand.
1. You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out
Ambassador Kang began by speaking about what students might do after they leave school, whether that means university, work or another pathway. For some students, those decisions may still feel a long way away; for others, they are approaching quickly. His message was not to feel pressured to have every answer immediately. It is okay not to know exactly what degree you want to study, what career you want to pursue or what direction you want to take next.
2. Learn to Understand the World Around You
His second message was about the importance of looking beyond your own subjects, hobbies and interests. Students today have access to more information than ever before, but being informed requires more than simply seeing or remembering information. Ambassador Kang encouraged students to question what they encounter, consider where information comes from and recognise the difference between facts, opinions and misinformation. Developing the ability to question, evaluate and think independently is increasingly important in a world shaped by social media, algorithms and rapidly changing technology.
“You live in a world where information is everywhere. But information and knowledge are not the same thing. And information and truth are not always the same thing either.”
3. Being Part of Australia’s Connection with Thailand
Finally, Ambassador Kang reflected on what it means to be part of an Australian school in Thailand and encouraged students to see themselves as part of the wider relationship between the two countries. He spoke about the role young people can play in strengthening those connections through curiosity, cooperation, openness to different perspectives and an understanding of the world beyond their own borders.
“You are all Australian ambassadors to Thailand because you either study or work at this school... The world you’re growing up in will need more curiosity, more cooperation, more courage, more willingness to listen, and more people prepared to look beyond their borders.”
We extend our sincere thanks to His Excellency Mr Pablo Kang for joining us at AISB and for sharing such thoughtful and inspirational messages with our students. Congratulations again to Evelyn, Derek, Katewadee and Aiyara on their outstanding achievements and well-deserved recognition in the OPEC Outstanding International School Student Awards 2026.
To learn more about Ambassador Kang's perspective on what it means to be an Australian school in Thailand, click here - Link to Article
