Dirk Mulder

Dirk Mulder is the founder of The Koala News, an Australian-focused international education news outlet, and recipient of the 2024 International Education Association of Australia Excellence Award for Professional Commentary.

With over 20 years of experience in international education across public and private sectors, Dirk has held leadership roles as Director of international offices at Australian universities and worked with Allianz Insurance across the Asia-Pacific. His insights are frequently featured in prominent outlets like the Australian Financial Review, The Australian, and ABC in both TV and online formats.

A former board member of Perth Education City (now Study Perth) and Education Adelaide, Dirk has chaired the Universities of Perth International Directors Forum and the Perth Education City South Asia Focus Group, leading delegations to India. He has also served on the board of the Hawkesbury Alumni Chapter, his alma mater.

Dirk holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Social Ecology), a Bachelor of Applied Science (Systems Agriculture) (Hons) from Western Sydney University (Hawkesbury), and a Master of International Relations from Macquarie University. He has also studied leadership at NYU Stern School of Business in New York.

Now based in Sydney, Dirk was previously active in the Port Kennedy community in Western Australia, where he chaired the Port Kennedy Progress Association and Endeavour Schools boards. He also served on the Bendigo Community Bank (Rockingham) board, the Global Friendship Committee of Rockingham City Council, and St. Bernadette’s Catholic Primary School.