Dr Kien Nguyen-Trung

Dr Kien Nguyen-Trung holds a Bachelor in Sociology from Vietnam National University, a Master of Arts from Flinders University and a PhD in Sociology from Monash University. Before joining BehaviourWorks Australia, Kien held research and teaching positions at Western Sydney University, Monash University, and Flinders University. He is interested in applying social and behavioural sciences into creating real-life impacts and bringing voice to and empowering vulnerable groups and communities in crisis.

Kien has taught and provided guest lectures at Monash University, Ton Duc Thang University (Vietnam), Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Vietnam National University, and designed and delivered training in qualitative research methods for many consulting firms and organisations. His passion for research methods led him to the foundation of the Vietnam Social Research Methodology, which promotes the learning and application of social research methods among Vietnamese scholars.

He serves on the Editorial Boards of Sociological Research Online (Q1) and The Qualitative Report (Q1), and he frequently serves as an associate editor for Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (Q1). He is a member of the British Sociological Association (BSA) and the Australian Sociological Association (TASA), and a regular reviewer for various journals. He has had articles published in prestigious journals such as Rural Sociology, Sociological Research Online, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Disaster Prevention and Management, and The Qualitative Report. His recent publications focus on disaster risk management, vulnerability, risk perception, social capital in disaster recovery, and the environmental justice movement in Australia.

Kien has worked on a variety of consulting projects with various donors in Vietnam and Australia, including UN Women, the World Bank, IFC, CARE international, Oxfam, AusAID, agencies of the Government of Vietnam, The NSW Government Office of Climate Change Energy, the Disability Royal Commission, the Scanlon Foundation and so forth. His consultancies have spanned various topics, including community development, behaviour change, water insecurity, gender inequality, disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, communication, poverty reduction, sustainable livelihoods, disability and social inclusion, migration and homelessness.