Finalists Selected for Oz Alumni Awards

Some of Indonesia’s greatest talents in business, government, research, the arts and media are among the finalists announced by the Embassy over the weekend for the Australian Alumni Awards 2008.

The inaugural alumni awards, to be conferred at a gala dinner in Jakarta on Saturday 16 February, have been designed to recognise the outstanding talent, achievements and contributions to Indonesia by the more than 30,000 Indonesians who have attended Australian schools, universities and technical colleges.

The Embassy received over one hundred nominations for the seven award categories from universities, employers and peers for high-achieving Australian Alumni across a variety of fields.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer, who described the annual awards as a “great way to celebrate the success of our former students”, said he was delighted with the calibre of nominations received, as reflected in the high quality field of finalists in each of the award categories.

Among the short-listed nominees are Lippo Group Deputy Chairman James Riady (Entrepreneurship category), Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Dr Boediono and LIPI Deputy Chair Dewi Fortuna Anwar (Economic and Social Development), Trans7 CEO Wishnutama and Metro TV anchor Meutya Hafid (Journalism and Media), leading fashion designer Sally Koeswanto (Creativity and Design), and Research and Technology Minister Dr Kusmayanto Kadiman (Research and Innovation).

Nokia Siemens executive Donny Gunadi, said he was delighted to have been recognised as a finalist in the business leadership category. “Spending 13 years studying and working in Australia has allowed me to build leadership qualities that I am now able to dedicate to the Indonesian telecommunications industry,” he said.

Dr Ines Atmosukarto, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer for biotech firm Lipotek Pty Ltd, said she felt “deeply honoured” to have been short-listed for the Research and Innovation Award. “My association with Australia has definitely played a very important role in my life, and being an Australian Alumni has opened up many opportunities for me,” she said.

Lipotek is currently involved in preparing the clinical trial of a novel immunotherapy for cancer in Canberra, with some of the testing to be done in Indonesia. It is also promoting RI-Australian collaborations for the research and development of novel vaccines.

Ligwina Poerwa-Hananto, CEO of Quantum Magna Financial and a finalist in the Entrepreneurship category, said she hoped the awards would encourage more Australian Alumni in Indonesia to start their own business.

“It is about time that we change the way we think about money,” she said. “It doesn’t just come to you; you need to be creative in finding new ways to make money. Being an entrepreneur helps change your outlook.”

The winners will be announced at the Australian Alumni Awards Dinner on 16 February 2008 at the Shangri-La Hotel. All Australian Alumni in Indonesia are encouraged to join the evening. Tickets are limited and can be purchased via the alumni (Ozmate) website at www.ozmate.org or by calling the Australian Education Centre on 021- 522 9675.

The finalists for each of the seven categories of awards are:

Australian Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship

Dr James T. Riady, Deputy Chairman, Lippo Group (University of Melbourne).
Ligwina Poerwa-Hananto, CEO, Quantum Magna Financial (Curtin University of Technology).
Junius Rumindei, President Director, PT Junius Creative International (University of Wollongong).

Australian Alumni Award for Sustainable Economic and Social Development

Dr Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Deputy Chair for Social Sciences and Humanities, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, LIPI (Monash University).
Dr Boediono, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (Monash University, University of Western Australia).
Dr Luthfi Assyaukanie, Senior Lecturer, Paramadina University (University of Melbourne).
Dr Jamhari, Vice Rector, Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta (Australian National University).

Australian Alumni Award for Research and Innovation

Dr Kusmayanto Kadiman, State Minister for Research and Technology (Australian National University).
Dr Suryadi Ismadji, Head of Chemical Engineering Department, Widya Mandala Surabaya Catholic University (University of Queensland).
Dr A. Caroline Sutandi, Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Faculty of Engineering, Parahyangan Catholic University (University of Queensland).
Dr Ines Atmosukarto, Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Lipotek Pty Ltd (University of Adelaide).
R. Mohamad Aryana Haribawa, IT Director, Lowe-Initiative Media (University of Melbourne, University of Tasmania).
Dr Herawati Sudoyo, Principal Scientist and Executive Manager, Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology (Monash University).

Australian Alumni Award for Business Leadership

Mukiat Sutikno, Managing Director, General Motors Autoworld Indonesia (Bond University, Swinburne University).
Dr Marcelino Pandin, Country Manager Indonesia, EMG Slum Upgrading Facility Pilot Team, United Nations (UN) Habitat (University of Queensland).
Donny Gunadi, Head of Solution Sales Management, Nokia Siemens Network (Monash University, Deakin University, RMIT University).

Australian Alumni Award for Culture and Arts

Imelda Akmal, Principal, Imelda Akmal Architecture Writer Studio (Swinburne University of Technology, RMIT University).
Tiarma Sirait, Director of Poleng Studio, Lecturer at Maranatha Christian University and Temasek International School, Bandung (RMIT University).
Mira Lesmana, Film Producer, Miles Productions (Australian International Independent School).
Marusya Nainggolan, Director, Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (University of Sydney).

Australian Alumni Award for Creativity and Design

Wahyu Aditya, President Director, Hello Motion Inc (KvB Institute of Technology).
Alvin Tjitrowirjo, Designer, alvinT (RMIT University).
Sally Koeswanto, Fashion Designer (The Whitehouse School of Design).
Budiman Hoolan Hendropurnomo, Director, PT DCM Jakarta (University of Melbourne).

Australian Alumni Award for Journalism and Media

Mohamad Sobary, Executive Director, Kemitraan (Monash University).
Rahmad Nasution, Canberra Bureau Chief, ANTARA News Agency (University of Queensland).
Avian Tumengkol, Executive Director for Presidential and International Affairs and Deputy Chief Editor, Waspada Group (William Angliss Institute, Melbourne).
Wishnutama Kusubandio, President Director, PT Duta Visual Nusantara (Trans 7) (Kooralbyn International School, Queensland).
Meutya Hafid, reporter and anchor, Metro TV (University of New South Wales).

Further information:
John Williams (Counsellor, Public Affairs), mob 0812 1053 989