02/09/2026
🎉 EXCITING NEWS — CDU ALUMNI AWARDS FINALIST! 🎓✨
SAMAF Consultants Palmerston is incredibly proud to share that our Principal Partner & Accountant, Joan Liwanag Tran, has been named a Finalist in the 2026 Charles Darwin University Alumni Awards – International Alumni Awards Category.
This is an incredible honour and a very special recognition of Joan’s journey, achievements and contribution to the Northern Territory community.
Joan’s journey in Darwin began in June 2023, when she arrived in the Northern Territory as an international student to pursue a Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice) at Charles Darwin University.
Since then, what started as a journey of education has grown into a journey of professional growth, community service, entrepreneurship, leadership and giving back.
During her time at CDU, Joan became actively involved in the CDU Free Tax Clinic, volunteering her accounting knowledge to help members of the community access free tax assistance, helping make professional and financial support more accessible to people across the Territory.
Joan’s commitment to professional development, community contribution and entrepreneurship has also received recognition beyond the Northern Territory — across Australia and internationally.
She has been recognised through multiple state and national awards, finalist nominations and professional opportunities, including recognition as an emerging accounting professional and community contributor. Her journey has also taken her onto interstate and international platforms, connecting her work in the Northern Territory with broader conversations around business, education, leadership, entrepreneurship and community impact.
Today, Joan is a Principal Partner and Accountant at SAMAF Consultants Palmerston, where she works with individuals, businesses and community organisations, providing accounting, taxation, bookkeeping, payroll and business advisory services.
Together with her husband and business partner, Joan is also building businesses in the Northern Territory and creating opportunities to support local businesses and contribute to the growth of the community she now calls home.
From arriving in Darwin as an international student to becoming a qualified accounting professional, business owner, community volunteer and advocate for education and professional growth, Joan’s journey is a reminder that where you start does not define how far you can go.
Her journey has been recognised not only in Darwin and across the Northern Territory, but also interstate and overseas, a reflection of how far dedication, resilience, education and a genuine desire to make a difference can take you.
This finalist recognition is not just a celebration of one achievement. It represents the people, mentors, colleagues, clients, friends, family, students and communities who have supported Joan throughout her journey and believed in what she could achieve.
We are incredibly proud of Joan and grateful to Charles Darwin University for recognising her journey among this year’s outstanding finalists.
From an international student arriving in Darwin in 2023 to standing among the finalists of the 2026 CDU Alumni Awards — this is a moment worth celebrating.
We look forward to celebrating at the 2026 CDU Alumni Awards Gala alongside an inspiring group of alumni from across Australia and around the world.
🎟️ Guests who would like to attend the Gala can purchase tickets here:
https://www.cdu.edu.au/events/2026-cdu-alumni-awards-gala
Congratulations, Joan! Your journey is just getting started. ❤️
