Media Release
21 November 2025
Australian Chargé d'affaires to Indonesia, Gita Kamath hosted a gala dinner to celebrate Australian alumni in Indonesia on Thursday 20 November in Jakarta.
More than 400 Australian alumni and other honoured guests, including Australian Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, The Hon. Tim Watts MP, attended the dinner.
“I am delighted to celebrate the contributions of our wonderful Indonesian alumni of Australian education institutions. Their deep connections with Australia underpin the partnership between our two countries,” said Australian Chargé d'affaires to Indonesia, Gita Kamath.
Australia's scholarship program, Australia Awards, is the longest-running foreign scholarship program in Indonesia, with over 200,000 alumni across the country. During the gala dinner, the 2025 Australian Alumni Awards, which recognise outstanding alumni, were announced. This year’s recipients are:
- 2025 Alumni of the Year: William Sabandar, PhD is a graduate of the University of New South Wales. Mr Sabandar’s contribution to Indonesia and the Australia-Indonesia relationship spans decades. He played leading roles managing disaster relief and reconstruction efforts in Indonesia and the region. As CEO of MRT Jakarta, he led the development of Indonesia’s first modern mass rapid transit system and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Indonesian Business Council and President of Intelligent Transport Systems Indonesia.
- Business Innovation Award: Ms Annette Anhar is a graduate of Monash University. Ms Anhar is the Director of Tugu Hotel Group, a collection of boutique hotels and restaurants renowned for combining art, culture, and hospitality. Under her leadership, Tugu Hotel Group preserves Indonesia’s cultural heritage through distinctive experiences that celebrate history, design, and culinary excellence.
- Promoting Women’s Empowerment and Social Inclusion Award: Professor Alimatul Qibtiyah, PhD is a graduate of Western Sydney University. Professor Qibtiyah has dedicated her career to advancing gender equality and human rights. She is a Professor of Gender Studies at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta and previously served as a Commissioner of Komnas Perempuan.
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Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kedubesaustralia/albums/72177720330473563