As a Master of International Business graduate from the University of Sydney Business School, Helen Mae Singco Hamid embodies the blend of academic excellence, public service, and global perspective that defines today’s most impactful development leaders.
A proud Filipino and recipient of the prestigious Australia Awards Scholarship, Helen currently serves as Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist at the Department of Trade and Industry Region IX (DTI IX) in the Philippines where her postgraduate education continues to shape regional economic transformation.
Choosing Sydney: A strategic step toward global competence
For Helen, selecting the University of Sydney Business School was a deliberate and mission-driven choice. With a career rooted in regional economic development, she sought a program that offered both academic rigor and practical insight into international trade dynamics.
She found exactly that in the Master of International Business, renowned for its global reputation and strong focus on market entry strategies, trade policy, and international competitiveness. The University’s commitment to real-world application aligned seamlessly with her work in strengthening industries and supporting businesses across the Philippines.
A journey shaped by service and lifelong learning
Helen’s academic path reflects a deep commitment to public service and economic empowerment. She began with a Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting, later completing a Master in Public Administration (Fiscal Administration).
Her early training in caregiving and food processing may seem worlds apart from international business, yet Helen credits these experiences with sharpening her precision, discipline, and understanding of value chains - skills that now support her work in industry development.
This diverse foundation ultimately led her to pursue specialised international business training, equipping her to better serve the evolving needs of her region.
I chose the Master of International Business at the University of Sydney because of its global reputation and its strategic focus on international trade dynamics.
Helen Mae Singco Hamid
Master of International Business
Applying global strategy to local realities
One of the most valuable aspects of Helen’s postgraduate experience was learning how to translate global business strategies into regional development initiatives. This skill has been central to her work at DTI IX, where she helps drive the growth of priority industry clusters, including coffee, coconut, processed fruits and nuts, and wearables and homestyle products.
Her training strengthened her ability to design interventions that elevate local industries to global standards, whether through export promotion, investment facilitation, or innovation-driven competitiveness.
Strengthening her role in trade and industry development
The Master of International Business has significantly elevated Helen’s capacity to manage complex trade and industry initiatives. She now leads key efforts in:
- Investment facilitation
- Export promotion
- Industry cluster development
- Trade policy analysis
Her enhanced analytical skills were instrumental in the midterm review of the Philippine Export Development Program (PEDP), and she has contributed to successful export initiatives—including the international export of coconut midribs, a milestone for local producers.
Advice for future postgraduate students
Helen encourages aspiring students to embrace the diversity and global perspectives offered by the Master of International Business at the University of Sydney Business School. She emphasises the value of building strong networks and engaging deeply with peers from around the world—an experience she describes as essential for anyone seeking to create meaningful impact in their home country.
Helen Mae Singco Hamid’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and global-minded leadership. Her journey demonstrates how international education—when paired with dedication to public service—can drive transformative change at the regional and national levels.