Professor Turnell was an advisor to deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He was taken into custody soon after the military seized control of the South East Asian country in a coup in February 2021.

Macquarie University has long supported Professor Turnell’s important work and his commitment to advising the former government of Myanmar on the economic emergence of its fledgling democracy.

“On behalf of the Macquarie University community, I extend my sincere gratitude to the Australian Government for its work over the past 21 months, as well as all of Professor Turnell’s supporters who campaigned so tirelessly, to secure his release,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor S Bruce Dowton. “We offer our support to Professor Turnell and his wife, Dr Ha Vu, as they now seek to move forward with their lives.”