Dr. Sarah Jane D. Lipura has a PhD in Asian Studies (University of Auckland) and is the lead convenor of the Philippine Studies Network Aotearoa New Zealand. She is a Research Fellow at the New Zealand Policy Research Institute (NZPRI) and co-leader of the Philippine Studies Hub at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). Leveraging her background in Area/Asian Studies, Sarah proactively integrates interdisciplinary research, community engagement and public policy to promote transformative outcomes for marginalised communities. As researcher, she is trained in qualitative methodologies with extensive fieldwork experience in Asia and Oceania, and has contributed to scholarship on international student/youth mobilities and education migration. Her current research interests include migrant health; international education policy; and New Zealand relations with Asia and the Philippines. A multilingual speaker with a proven track record in academic, governmental and community-based settings in New Zealand and internationally, Sarah was previously based at the North Asia Centre for Asia-Pacific Excellence, University of Auckland, where she developed linguistic and cultural competency programmes for diverse stakeholders. Prior to joining NZPRI, she worked at the NZ Parliament as Ethnic Communities Engagement Advisor. She maintains strong transnational connections with Philippine universities, especially with Ateneo de Manila, where she was founding director of the Korean Studies Programme. As network convenor, Sarah is committed to advancing Philippine-related research/studies in New Zealand. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys listening to music, learning different languages and traveling with her husband Noel and son Lukas.