Maria Ng, IDRC Senior Program Specialist in Information and Networks, received the Mongolian Friendship Medal on October 13, 2011. Through this award, the Mongolian Government recognized her long-standing contribution to the country's information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The Friendship Award is the highest honour bestowed upon a foreigner by the Mongolian Government. On behalf of President Elbegdorj Tsakhia, the Head of the President’s Office presented Ng with the award at a function held at Parliament House in Ulan Bataar. The Canadian Ambassador to Mongolia, Gregory Goldhawk, and IDRC's Regional Director for Southeast and East Asia, Rosalia Sciortino, attended the ceremony. Ng has helped shape and guide IDRC-supported research on ICTs in Asia for more than three decades. Her expertise lies in building ICT uses that promote sustainable development, distance education, open educational resources, and access in remote areas.