NINA TRANG NGUYEN

EVENT MANAGEMENT & MKT

I bring extensive experience in managing and producing a wide range of events—live, virtual, and hybrid—from national television broadcasts and global award ceremonies to public dialogues, webinars, cultural programs, and private networking sessions. Whether hosting heads of state at Vietnam’s first post-pandemic international event, producing webinars for global scientific communities, or creating interactive shows for mass audiences, I approach each event as a strategic storytelling opportunity. My work blends content, logistics, and audience experience to deliver events that are not only seamless—but meaningful and memorable.

End-to-End Event Production

at VinFuture

At VinFuture, I led the development of content that bridged scientific complexity with human connection. Through storytelling, structure, and digital fluency, I created a wide range of narrative-driven assets that amplified the prize’s mission and voice on a global stage.

GLOBAL AWARDS CEREMONIES

I oversaw communications and supported the production for the first two VinFuture Prize Award Ceremonies, the foundation’s most globally visible events. The inaugural ceremony marked Vietnam’s first major post-pandemic international in-person event, hosting over 300 VVIPs, including the Prime Minister, government ministers, ambassadors, global scientists, and international press.

The event captured global attention, not only for its prestige and scale, but for its emotional resonance. Featuring performances by world-class artists John Legend and Christina Aguilera, the ceremony successfully showed its scale and class while celebrating scientific achievement and underscoring the humanity at the heart of the Prize. I led the messaging strategy, coordinated media coverage, and crafted narrative content across both physical and digital platforms.

Beyond the main ceremony, I supported the planning and storytelling for the Gala Dinner and curated cultural experiences that highlighted Vietnam’s rich heritage. These moments—through traditional cuisine, music, and local storytelling—offered international guests a meaningful cultural exchange and deepened the relational impact of the VinFuture experience.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FORMATS

To lay the foundation for VinFuture’s Award Week, I initiated and led a series of public science dialogues aimed at making science more accessible and relevant to the Vietnamese public—where science remains a relatively niche conversation. The first “Public Dialogue” series featured Nobel Laureate Prof. Sir Kostya Novoselov, FRS, alongside industry leaders and prominent scientists from institutions like UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara. By simplifying complex topics and enabling open discussion, the event drew strong engagement from young audiences—garnering over 10,000 views and active interaction through simultaneous translation.

The most personally meaningful achievement of mine was “Talk Future,” the first post-award audience-facing talk show featuring VinFuture Laureates. I served as creative director, shaping the content flow in close collaboration with the laureates to bring out their personal stories, vulnerabilities, and values beyond the lab. Here, science became deeply human. Laureates shared emotional reflections on their failures, families, and childhoods—while meeting people impacted by their work, reconnecting with old friends, and exchanging with young Vietnamese minds in an open, heartfelt setting.

In addition to leading the event marketing, I designed the talk show's tone, format, and emotional arc—turning a formal scientific gathering into an intimate and inspiring milestone that bridged the gap between world-class research and the lives it transforms.

ACADEMIC EVENTS FOR SCI-TECH COMMUNITIES

Understanding the importance of expanding VinFuture’s academic ecosystem—both for immediate goals like nomination outreach and for long-term brand positioning—I initiated and led the “InnovaTalk” webinar series. This original program spotlighted cutting-edge inventions, breakthrough research, and emerging Sci-Tech trends, presented by leading global experts and discussed from multiple perspectives by researchers at varying levels. I served as host and moderator, engaging scientists directly, posing live audience questions, and summarizing key takeaways to ensure clarity and relevance for diverse viewers.

This series not only deepened audience insight, but also pushed me beyond my comfort zone—sharpening my ability to distill complex scientific knowledge and communicate it accessibly without compromising depth.

In parallel, I co-produced a virtual ePanel in collaboration with Keystone Symposia, one of the US’s most respected academic platforms for scientific discussion, particularly in medicine and biotechnology. The session explored advancements in nanoparticle technology, featuring VinFuture Grand Prize Laureate Dr. Pieter Cullis, whose pioneering work in lipid nanoparticle delivery helped enable the success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19.

The conversation integrated both academic and industry perspectives—examining therapeutic design, delivery mechanisms, and the translational journey from lab to clinic. These events were designed as virtual and hybrid formats, allowing for real-time participation across time zones and maximizing engagement from global researchers and institutions.

I oversaw every aspect—from concept and speaker coordination to digital execution—ensuring that each session delivered both technical value and compelling storytelling to elevate VinFuture’s academic presence on the global stage.

POLICY-LEVEL ROUNDTABLES

With the support of Vietnam’s key ministries, particularly the Ministry of Science & Technology and the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism, I led the development and delivery of the “Science for Life” Symposium Series, a platform that brought together global Sci-Tech leaders and senior policymakers.

These high-level roundtables explored how science and technology can address critical global challenges and inform more inclusive, future-ready policy frameworks. By bridging the regulatory and scientific communities, this series positioned VinFuture as a strategic convener at the intersection of innovation, governance, and public good.

Facilitating Design Thinking Workshops at Doodle Design Company

As a Strategic Designer at Doodle Design Company, I co-led the planning and facilitation of Academy by Doodle A—a series of virtual Design Thinking workshops launched during the pandemic to help businesses and organisations tackle challenges through creative problem-solving.

Working with cross-disciplinary teams, I facilitated interactive sessions that introduced participants to the full Design Thinking process: from problem definition and empathy mapping to ideation, prototyping, and user feedback. These workshops were designed to be highly engaging despite the online format, using collaborative tools like Miro and Zoom breakout rooms to simulate hands-on teamwork and co-creation.

Each session was crafted to encourage experimentation, empower non-designers, and connect participants from diverse backgrounds—including corporate professionals and entrepreneurs in different sectors—under a shared mission of designing for impact.

Through this program, I and my team helped create a safe, exploratory space where ideas could evolve rapidly, and strategic thinking was always anchored in human-centered insight.