Decision details

Minute by the Lord Mayor

To Council:

I inform Council of the passing of Nguyen Khanh Tran, a strong advocate for international students, disability rights and the LGBTQIA+ community, on 25 February 2025.

A law student at Sydney University, Khanh participated in the City's 2021-2022 International Student Leadership and Ambassador (ISLA) Program, raising issues and challenges faced by their fellow international students. They collaborated with the City to co-design and work on projects and events that addressed their needs and encouraged interaction between international and local students, and with the local community. As an International Student Ambassador, they spoke at international student events and forums, to increase visibility of international students in the local community and raise awareness of the challenges international students faced.

In 2022, I presented Khanh with their ISLA program completion certificate at the International Student Welcome Reception at Sydney Town Hall.

Khanh's work with the City complemented their active involvement in the Sydney University community. In September 2021 they were elected as a member of the 2022 editorial team for the Sydney University student newspaper, Honi Soit and subsequently co-edited Disabled Honi in 2023. From their very first byline in April 2020 to their final piece in March 2025, Khanh authored over 140 articles—a remarkable body of work that reflects their unwavering dedication to activism, political and investigative journalism, and their deep commitment to equity, diversity, and social justice.

During 2023-2024, they served as the Student Representative Council's Disabilities and Carers Officer. Khanh also collaborated with the Postgraduate Disability and Inclusion Network. Some of the outcomes of this collaboration included an autonomous disabilities community room on campus, a Disability Hub stall during WelcomeFests and Disability Inclusion Week and an Accessibility Handbook. They also actively worked on the campaign to remove harmful discrimination against disabled people in Australian immigration law with the ‘Welcoming Disability’ initiative.

During the same period, they played a pivotal role in the Fair Fares campaign, advocating for public transport concessions for international and part-time students, in New South Wales. They mobilised students and residents to sign petitions both online and in-person and stood alongside student representatives at the NSW Parliament debate in May 2024.

At a 2023 Sydney University Roundtable Discussion, 100+ Years of International Students, Khanh presented a policy paper which outlined systemic challenges such as employment barriers and the need for affordable student accommodation and offered concrete, well-researched solutions. At this Roundtable, Khanh also called for a collective effort to fund a state-level international student representative body. This directly inspired the establishment of the NSW International Student Representative Committee in 2024.

For many, Khanh was a dear friend who saw the best in people, a steadfast comrade you could always count on, and a fierce advocate who stood up for social justice.

Khanh once said, “I hope to contribute concretely to improving the lives of myself, others, and make a positive return to the Australian, Vietnamese, and global community.”

This they achieved, at Sydney University and in the broader City of Sydney community.

COUNCILLOR CLOVER MOORE AO

Lord Mayor

Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Arkins –

It is resolved that:

(A)       all persons attending this meeting of Council observe one minute’s silence to commemorate the life of Nguyen Khanh Tran and their significant contribution to the Sydney University and international student communities;

(B)       Council express its condolences to Khanh’s family and friends; and

(C)       the Lord Mayor be requested to convey Council’s condolences to Khanh’s family.

Carried unanimously.

S051491

Note – All Councillors, staff and members of the public present stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect to Nguyen Khanh Tran.