Australian Alumni Awards 2008
Congratulations to the Australian Alumni Award Winners!
The winners of the inaugural Australian Alumni Awards were announced at a gala awards dinner in Jakarta on 16 February 2008. The dinner, which was supported by 12 Australian universities and sponsored by several institutions, attracted around 650 guests and numerous media attention.
The Australian Alumni Awards are a new award scheme designed to recognise outstanding talent, achievements and contributions made to Indonesia by Australian alumni living and working in Indonesia today. The Australian Alumni Awards are an initiative of Australian Education International (AEI) at the Australian Embassy in Indonesia.
Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Bill Farmer AO, said he was delighted to congratulate the winners. ”It was just fantastic to see so many outstanding alumni celebrating together at the first ever Australian Alumni Awards. The winners and all the finalists in each category have shown great leadership and achieved remarkable things in their respective fields and I am pleased to think their Australian education has contributed to their success.”
AEI is pleased to congratulate the following winners for 2008. The final decision was made by a panel of fellow alumni.
Australian Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship - Awarded to Dr James Riady, Deputy Chairman of the Lippo Group, in acknowledgement of his success in developing profitable businesses in areas which promote the common good, such as education and health, and in a manner characterised by good corporate governance principles.
Australian Alumni Award for Sustainable and Economic Development - Awarded to Dr Boediono, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, in recognition of his considerable contribution to Indonesia’s economic development throughout his distinguished period as Minister, as well as through his academic career as a teacher and mentor for future Indonesian economists.
Australian Alumni Award for Research and Innovation – Awarded jointly to Dr Kusmayanto Kadiman, State Minister for Research and Technology, and to Dr Herawati Sudoyo, Principal Scientist and Executive Manager of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology.
Dr Kadiman won the award in recognition of his leadership role in the development and setting of national science and technology policies and targets and, in particular, for his important leadership role in forging closer relations between the Indonesian and international scientific communities.
Dr Sudoyo’s award was in recognition of her outstanding research in the field of molecular biology, which focuses on the genetic diversity of the people of Indonesia and other parts of South-East Asia. This which has contributed significantly to health management in Indonesia and for victim identification purposes in disasters.
Australian Alumni Award for Business Leadership - Awarded to Mr Mukiat Sutikno, Managing Director of General Motors Indonesia, in recognition of his rapid rise through the ranks of the Indonesian automotive industry and his strong business acumen, leadership and ethical business practices.
Australian Alumni Award for Culture and Arts - Awarded to Mrs Marusya Nainggolan, Director of Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, in recognition of her considerable achievements as an exceptional pianist and composer, and for her dedication to the promotion of classical music and the arts in Indonesia.
Australian Alumni Award for Journalism and Media - Awarded to Ms Meutya Hafid, Senior Anchor for Metro TV, in recognition of her dedication to quality journalism, achieved through her understanding of cultural issues, and in recognition of her handling of significant media events which exemplifies her high journalistic standards and professionalism.
Australian Alumni Award for Creativity and Design - Awarded to Mr Budiman Hoolan Hendropurnomo, Director of PT DCM Jakarta, in recognition of his outstanding talent as an architect whose well-known buildings demonstrate his innovation and creativity.
Special awards were also given to some alumni. The Inspiration Awards were given to six outstanding alumni, whose work, either in their profession or a voluntary capacity is truly an inspiration for others. They have worked tirelessly towards a particular cause driven by their passion for contributing to improving the lives of others. The Inspiration Awardees for 2008 are Ms. Miranda Risang Ayu, Mr. Anak Agung Gede Raka Dalem, Ms. Eva Kasim, Mr. Abdul Mu'ti, Dr Makmur Sanusi, and Mr Samsul Bahri Usman.
The Australian Embassy is very conscious of the impact made by alumni in furthering the relationship between Australian and Indonesia. Distinguished Alumni Awards were awarded to four distinguished alumni who have contributed significantly to the relationship: Dr. Hermanto Dardak, Mr. Jonathan Limbong Parapak,Ms. Koesmarihati and Mr. Abdillah Toha.
Guests were also entertained by performances from fellow alumni, including renowned jazz guitarist I Wayan Balawan, an exclusive fashion show by Sally Koeswanto, a dance performance by Bellydance Jakarta, and a performance by DJ Delizious Devina. The MCs for the night were alumni Tommy Tjokro and Dian Krishna from Metro TV.
Twelve Australian universities supported the Australian Alumni Awards: Adelaide University, Bond University, Central Queensland University, Curtin University of Technology, Flinders University, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Monash University, The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland, University of South Australia, and University of Technology Sydney. Representatives of these universities also attended the event.
THE PROFILE
Australian Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship
Dr James Tjahaja Riady
Dr Riady attained the Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting & Economic Development, at the University of Melbourne in 1977. Since the late 1980’s, Dr Riady has been instrumental in the development of the Lippo Group’s banking, financial services, property development, insurance, IT, communications, education businesses in Indonesia, as well as its expansion into Singapore, China and Hong Kong. Dr Riady is actively involved in development business in Indonesia as Deputy Head of The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN).
Very few innovative entrepreneurs venture into businesses which contribute to the health, education, social, moral, economic & democratic development of its people. In 1991, Dr Riady founded the non-profit Pelita Harapan Educational Foundation, which oversees three universities and 18 schools. He started Indonesia's largest non-government hospital group with currently four hospitals and one specialist clinic. In 2006 in conjunction with his father, he established the Mochtar Riady Comprehensive Cancer Centre, a cancer research institute and plans to build the first private cancer centre in 2009. In 2007 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters from La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Australian Alumni Award for Sustainable and Economic Development
Dr Boediono
In 1967, Dr Boediono graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Economics with Honours. In 1972, he completed a Master of Economics at Monash University, Melbourne, and subsequently worked as a research assistant at the Department of Economics in the Research School for Pacific and Asian Studies at the Australian National University, Canberra. In 1974 Dr Boediono began lecturing in Economics at Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, where he stills holds an ongoing appointment. He later attained a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Dr Boediono was a member of the National Research Council, and held positions at the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS), the Islamic Development Bank, the Monetary Board and Bank Indonesia. Under the Habibie Government, Dr Boediono was the State Minister for National Planning and Chairman of BAPPENAS.
The international donor and business community highly respects Dr Boediono for his achievements as Minister for Finance under the Megawati administration. He is widely regarded as a reform-minded minister who has played a key role in restoring macroeconomic stability in Indonesia. Dr Boediono came out of retirement in December 2005 to accept an offer to become Co-ordinating Minster for the Economy in the Yudhoyono administration.
Australian Alumni Award for Research and Innovation
Awarded jointly to Dr Kusmayanto Kadiman and Dr Herawati Sudoyo.
Dr Kusmayanto Kadiman
Dr Kadiman completed a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering at the Australian national university in 1988. since that time, Dr Kadiman has held a number of senor positions at the Bandung Institute of Technology. After a period as Director of the Computer Centre, then Director of the Technology Research centre, Dr Kadiman was Rector of the Bandung Institute from 2001-2004. In 2004 he became the Indonesian State Minister for Research and Technology.
Dr Kadiman is currently the Chairman of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology and Chairman of the National Research Council. Dr Kadiman is recognised for his role in promoting research, science and technology. He believes in the benefits of science and technology cooperation among countries for enhancing domestic strengths and accelerating the learning process. In recognition of his achievements as an academic, the French government awarded Dr Kadiman the Officier dans I ‘Ordre des Palmes Academique in 2005.
Dr Herawati Sudoyo
After completing her earlier education at the University of Indonesia in 1985, Dr Sudoyo pursued further studies at Monash University in Melbourne. In 1990, Dr Sudoyo attained her Ph.D in Molecular Biology before returning to Indonesia. Dr Sudoyo is a prominent scientist who has been recognised for her achievements in the area of human genetics. Through her extensive research she has focused on the genetic diversity of the people of Indonesia and neighbouring South East Asia. Much of her research has important connections to the understanding of health, disease and their management.
Since the late 1980’s, Dr Sudoyo has published her work in internationally respected scientific journals and presented numerous papers relating to her research before international audiences. Dr Sudoyo is a founding member of the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta. She has been Executive Manager of the Institute since 1991 and Principal Scientist since 1992. Dr Sudoyo continues to lecture at the Police University (PTIK), Hasanuddin University in Makassar and the University of Diponegoro, Central Java. Dr Sudoyo led the forensic team from the Eijkman Institute who investigated the bomb in Kuningan in 2004, through the analysis of DNA.
Australian Alumni Award for Business Leadership
Mr Mukiat Sutikno
In 1990 Mr Sutikno commenced his studies in Australia, completing his Victorian Certification of Education at Taylor’s College. He graduated with an Associate Diploma of International Trade from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Business from Swinburne University of Technology, and a Master of International Management from Bond University. He was awarded the Vice Chancellor’s award and the Dean’s list award during his studies at Bond.
On his return to Indonesia, Mr Sutikno entered a career in the Indonesian motor industry where he rapidly worked his way to the top. He has held the positions of Sales, Marketing and Aftersales Division Head for Astra International, Deputy Head of the Marketing Committee of Astra Motors and is currently the Managing Director for General Motors (GM) Autoworld Indonesia. This last appointment is a significant achievement as he is the first Indonesian to occupy this position. His responsibilities include maintaining GM’s healthy financial position, further improving GM’s competitiveness in the market and, as the sole agent for Chevrolet in Indonesia, rejuvenating the Chevrolet brand and restructuring the dealership network.
Australian Alumni Award for Culture and Arts
Mrs Marusya Nainggolan
Mrs Nainggolan is one of Indonesia’s best known composers. From 1980 to 1984 she completed a Bachelor of Music (majoring in piano) at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with the assistance of a Department of Foreign Affairs scholarship. She received a scholarship from the Fulbright Foundation and completed a Master of Arts majoring in composition from Boston University in 1987.
Mrs Nainggolan returned to Indonesia to pursue her career as a pianist and is a prolific composer. She has occupied the position of director of Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (GKJ) (Jakarta Arts Foundation) for the past three years. In response to the tsunami that devastated parts of Aceh and West Sumatra in late 2004 and the earthquake in Yogyakarta in 2006, Mrs Nainggolan composed songs in a display of empathy for survivors. She also devotes her time to speaking at seminars and teaching at schools, at the elementary and university level, about performance art.
Australian Alumni Award for Journalism and Media
Ms Meutya Hafid
Ms Hafid is a news reporter and anchor with Indonesia’s Metro TV. She is an engineering graduate from the University of New South Wales (2001), following two years of high school in Singapore. Ms Hafid began her media career as a public relations officer and announcer of Eastside Radio in Sydney, before joining Metro in 2002. She has since become one of Indonesia’s most recognized media figures and is often described as the “face of Metro TV”. She is the anchor for prime time news and talk shows (“Top Nine News”, “Today’s Dialogue” and “Metro Hari Ini”) and a weekly technology program, “e-lifestyle”.
Ms Hafid has had significant international experience, covering stories in Russia, Thailand (including the recent coup in Bangkok), Malaysia and in Iraq, launched in Jakarta in October 2007. Ms Hafid was the inaugural winner of the Australian Governments Elizabeth O’Neill Journalist Award in 2007, filing reports for Metro TV on the Australian Federal Election during her award visit program to Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
Australian Alumni Award for Creativity and Design
Mr Budiman Hoolan Hendropurnomo
Mr Hendropurnomo is one of the most talented and creative architects in Indonesia today with his designs contributing to Indonesian modern urban landscape. Mr Hendropurnomo graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Architecture and commenced work at the architectural firm Denton Corker Marshall in Melbourne. After gaining valuable experience in Australia, he transferred to the firm’s Jakarta Office to eventually become the Director of Denton Corker Marshall in Indonesia. Since then he has completed a number of significant buildings largely in the tourism field focusing on hotels, entertainment venues and shopping centres.
Some of his buildings such as Hotel Alila Jakarta and Maya Ubud Bali are regarded as icons of its era and he has gone on to receive a number of Indonesian Institute of Architecture Awards. Mr Hendropurnomo is currently working on a number of high-rise towers in Indonesia and the Taj K and Resort and Spa in Sri Lanka.