Ash is currently undertaking his PhD in Politics with Murdoch University, Perth, facilitated by AusAID’s Australian Leadership Awards scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to emerging leaders from developing countries who show great promise in contributing to a better future for their country.
Ash had previously been a serving senior officer in the Bangladeshi Police and served in a number of key positions contributing to the development of the police organisation in line with establishing the rule of law and people’s access to justice.
During his time in the Bangladeshi Police he worked as a Security Sector Reform Expert for the UNDP Reform Program in Bangladesh, and was involved in integrating organisational change and strategic reform initiatives for Bangladeshi Police.
Ash nominated Coffey’s Perth (Security and Justice) office for his two month Leadership Internship module. This time with Coffey allowed Ash to gain insight into the latest reforms and contemporary practices within rule of law, policing and prisons which he will be able to take back with him to Bangladesh and also contribute to his PhD studies.
He was involved in project discussions and meetings, exposure to project methodologies and management practices relevant to current and past international projects. A number of visits and introductions to networks were also arranged, including:
- WA Police Headquarters
- WA Police Academy
- WA Department of Corrective Services (DCS) Karnet Prison Farm
- WA Police Forensic Services
- WA Police Executive Meeting (Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner)
- Murdoch University Business School network
Ash described the internship of having been “of great value.”
“I have had the opportunity to learn Coffey’s approaches to development for ensuring local and sustainable capacity building. Clearly, the attention given to cultural sensitivity, effective communication strategies, and the building of long term collaborative relationships with the aid recipient countries and beneficiary departments are key behind Coffey’s success and consistent growth in the field of security and justice.”
We wish Ash well in his studies, and look forward to his contribution to security and justice in Bangladesh when he returns home.
Photo at right courtesy of WA Dept of Corrective Services: PhD researcher Mohammad "Ash" Ashfaqul Alam (centre right) and Coffey International Development senior project manager John Gillespie (far right), with Karnet Prison Farm Staff.
