Recipients of Special Alumni Awards - Profiles

Distinguished Alumni Award

Ms Lubna Algadrie
Ms Algadrie is a driven and energetic woman who has contributed much to the education sector in Indonesia. After receiving her Diploma in TEFL from the University of Sydney in 1977, she was awarded her Master in Applied Linguistics from the same university in 1985. In 1997 Ms Algadrie established a Language Centre for the Surabaya Institute of Technology. She dedicated her time and enthusiasm to set up the institution, which has become one of the most recognised centres in Indonesia for foreign language training, assessment and self-access.

Ms Algadrie is a devoted and enthusiastic Director of the language centre and has also taught English there since 1974. She has maintained strong links between Australia and Indonesia by working closely with the Australian Alumni Association in Surabaya and providing welfare and educational support for those in need.

Dr I Made Nitis
Dr Nitis has made an excellent contribution to land farming with his innovative research in Bali and eastern Indonesia. He was the first Indonesian to obtain his Bachelor degree, his Master degree and go on to complete his PhD in rural science in 1974, from the same university- the University of New England, Armidale. He has held a number of worthy positions in Udayana University in Bali; from Dean of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry to most recently, Professor in Nutrition and Tropical Forage System and project leader of Research and Development at the Three Strata Forage System. Dr Nitis has also been actively involved with the advancement of agriculture in Bali and Indonesia. He has worked closely with the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), was the head of the Expert Group for Bali Development and has been scientific advisor to the International Foundation for Science (IFS) since 1993.

Dr Nitis is a Fellow of the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank and has won numerous awards throughout his career. These include the Hanover World Expo 2000 Award in 2003, the Widya Pataka Award from the Governor of Bali for his book on Gilcirida for dry land farming in 2006 and the Chancellor’s Award for Dry Land Farming Development with Three Strata Forage System from Udayana University in 2007.

Mr Abdullah Alamudi
Mr Alamudi went to Australia under the Colombo Plan scholarship scheme in 1961 before spending time studying Economics at the University of Tasmania. He returned to Indonesia in 1964 to devote himself to the media industry determined to uphold freedom of the press, despite the adverse conditions during the early years of the Suharto regime. He used the knowledge and experience he gained overseas to establish his own written media as well as making several appearances on television to educate the press about press freedom in Indonesia. Mr Alamudi has enjoyed diverse and international experience, which have contributed to his success.

Mr Alamudi has made outstanding contributions to the press industry throughout his distinguished career, and media and journalism are his life long passion. He is currently a member of the Press Council (the highest press body in Indonesia) whose nine members are appointed by Presidential decree. In his role with the Press Council, he travels extensively throughout Indonesia to provide guidance and advice to the government, military, parliament and legal practitioners on press freedom.

Inspirational Alumni Awards

Dr Deddy Mulyana
Since graduating with a PhD from the Department of Anthropology and Sociology at Monash University in 1996, Dr Mulyana has been passionately involved in the development of communication education and its curriculum advancement. He has taught at all levels of Padjadjaran University where he is currently Dean and Professor of the Faculty of Communication Science. He has been a visiting professor at many international universities in America, Germany and The Netherlands. Since returning from Australia, Dr Mulyana has presented on communication at numerous regional, national and international seminars and training programs- for academics as well as for engineers, doctors, the military and other professional groups.

Dr Mulyana has published dozens of articles in many national journals. He has also written numerous books on communication, which have become best sellers in Indonesia and many are currently in use throughout Indonesia, particularly in the field of research methodology.

Ms Khairiah Syahabuddin
Ms Syahbuddin has made an inspirational and intensive contribution to Indonesian education, especially in Banda Aceh. She graduated with a Master of TESOL from the University of Southern Queensland in 2006. Since then Ms Syahbuddin has been heavily involved in both institutional and community works in all aspects of her role as Lecturer at the State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) in Banda Aceh. As a board member of IAIN, she is also responsible for supervising and running the organisation.

Apart from teaching, Ms Syahbuddin provides academic support and advice, supervises final year students and presents papers on English pedagogy and teaching methodology. She also finds time to write English teaching articles and maintains her close community connections by teaching English to the local children.

Ms Netty Muharni
After graduating from Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, Ms Muharni completed her Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Curtin University in 2007, under the provisions of an AusAID scholarship. During this time she served as an inspirational ambassador for Indonesia and was awarded a prize for the most outstanding post-graduate student in the discipline.

Ms Muharni returned to Banda Aceh to utilise her skills and experience to assist her community to rebuild her homeland, much of which was destroyed in the earthquake and tsunami disaster of 2004. As secretary of the National Craft Council of Aceh Province, she assists victims to empower themselves and reconstruct their economy through the craft sector. Through her determination and diligence, she was able to assist the Council to penetrate the international market thus helping thousands of people in rural areas have better access to training, funding and quality of life. Ms Muharni is currently the Head of Domestic and International Trade at the Department of Industrial Trade, Cooperatives and SMEs Office in Banda Aceh.

Mr Hadi Cahyadi
Mr Cahyadi is a successful businessman with a strong educational background and a commitment to fostering education in Indonesia. Mr Cahyadi obtained his Master of Law from the RMIT University in 1999. Currently he is Managing Partner of PB Capital, a division of the reputed BP&Co, however, he also works passionately on a number of other voluntary programs. As head of Alumni of his former senior school in Malang, Mr Cahyadi has developed ‘PEKSY’ into a professional organisation that provides scholarships to bright students who do not have access to university funding. He is President of Rotary for Central Jakarta where he has actioned his concerns for global warming and the environment through a mangrove re-plantation program and supporting the Planting One Million Trees program.

Hadi is also President of the Association of Fundraising Professional (AFP), which promotes accountable and transparent fundraising. He is an inspiring and devoted community member who has worked tirelessly to contribute to making changes in the environment and education in Indonesia.

Ms Fanina Yulianthi
Ms Yulianthi has made a significant contribution to small business in Indonesia. She is involved in many organisations on a personal and professional level and has a strong affiliation with Australian networks. After studying a Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University, she obtained her Master of Commerce in International Business in 2005 from the same institution. Currently she is the Financial Manager of Kertha Usada General Hospital in Bali and Chairperson of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneur’s Association (HIPMI). Through her work, Ms Yulianthi actively promotes and assists small industries in Buleleng to enter and expand on the international business arena through developing a strong networking system, while improving human resources through entrepreneurship training. She effortlessly takes a hands-on approach in delivering seminars and providing information to small business industries in remote areas.

Ms Yulianthi finds time in her busy schedule to be Treasurer of the Private Hospital Association of Bali and Secretary of the Woman’s Democracy Party for Buleleng Bali. She is also a respected member of the Australia Indonesia Business Council and of the Balinese Students’ Association (STT Melbourne).

5 February 2009