Today I announce the appointment of Ms Lydia Santoso as Chair of the Australia-Indonesia Institute.
The Australia-Indonesia Institute has long championed initiatives that strengthen personal, institutional and cultural ties between Australia and Indonesia. Our relationship with Indonesia is grounded in a history of friendship and cooperation between our people and governments.
The Board sets the strategic direction for the Institute's programs and activities, which support partnerships in business, the arts, education, health, science, technology and sport.
Ms Santoso has been a Board Member since 2015 and long been an advocate for forging cultural connections and deepening Australia's economic engagement with Indonesia. She is currently Chair of the Australia Indonesia Business Council (NSW) and serves on the board of the Australian Consortium for 'In-Country' Indonesian Studies.
I am also pleased to announce the appointment of three new board members, who each bring a wealth of experience to support the goals of the Institute, including the broadening and deepening of Australian-Indonesian relations:
- Dr Jemma Purdey is an Adjunct Fellow at the Australia Indonesia Centre, Monash University, the editor of Inside Indonesia magazine and a founding Director of the ReelOzInd! Australia Indonesia Short Film Festival.
- Mr Robert Law is a Director at Asialink Business, advising businesses on engagement with Asia.
- Mr Robbie Gaspar was the first Australian to play professional soccer in Indonesia and is President of the Indonesia Institute.
Ms Amanda Hodge, Southeast Asia correspondent for The Australian newspaper, and Ms Armina Rosenberg, portfolio manager at Minotour, an AI-powered hedge fund, have also been reappointed for a second three-year term.
I would like to thank outgoing Chair, Emeritus Professor Greg Fealy AM, and fellow Board Member, Franchesca Cubillo, for their contributions to the work of the Institute.
