Our Board
President and Founder
Mr Ross B Taylor AM
Bio:
Ross Taylor is a former WA Government Regional Director to Indonesia and has held senior positions, including National Vice-President, of the Australia-Indonesia Business Council. Ross has also held senior executive roles with Wesfarmers Ltd and Phosphate Resources Limited, and is involved in philanthropy and cancer-charity work throughout the region. Ross is one of Australia's leading commentators on Indonesia-Australia relations, and writes "Opinion" articles for The Australian, The West Australian and The Jakarta Post Newspapers on a regular basis. He is also the author of three published books.
In 2013 Ross was appointed by the Governor-General of Australia as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant services to Australia-Indonesia relations and to the (philanthropic) community. Ross was also selected, in July 2013, by the Indonesian Government as Australia's "Presidential Friend of Indonesia - 2013."
Vice President
Dr Hadrian
Geri Djajadikerta
Bio:
Hadrian has decades of experience in a variety of academic leadership and business consulting roles in Australia and Indonesia, both in the private and public sectors. He is currently Associate Dean Research and Associate Professor of Accounting in the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University in Perth. Hadrian holds a PhD in Strategic Management Accounting, an MBA, a Master in Industrial Engineering, and a Bachelor of Commerce. He is also a Chartered Accountant, a Certified Management Accountant, and a Stanford Certified Project Manager.
Secretary-Director
Lauren Gumbs
Bio:
Lauren lived in Asia for nine years, six in Indonesia, where she developed an enduring relationship with the dynamic country. Lauren taught English in Hong Kong and Indonesia and worked as a communications consultant, a freelance writer and journalist. Lauren holds a Bachelor degree in Journalism and a Masters degree in Communications. She is currently studying a Master of Human Rights through Curtin University and working as a media and communications officer in local council. Lauren is the blog editor at the Indonesia Institute's blog and hopes to encourage a relationship of mutual trust, understanding and good natured humour through her activities with the Institute which she said are intended to create stronger ties between Indonesia and Australia.
Treasurer-Director
Clare O'Connor
Bio:
Clare is a Chartered Accountant with a background in process and risk management consulting. Since having her children she has lectured in the Masters of Accounting program at Macquarie University in her home town of Sydney, and facilitated the Professional Year Program workshops for the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Clare's interest and passion for Indonesia began during her family's posting to Jakarta between 2010 and 2013. She has since completed a Graduate Diploma in Humanities (Indonesian) from the Universty of New England in NSW and continues her studies of bahasa Indonesia.
Clare is now based in Perth where she is involved in a number of organisations working to improve the lives of Indonesian people and support the development of the relationship between Australia and Indonesia".
Director
Agus Gunawan
Bio:
Presently Agus is based in Perth and also in Jakarta where he is a Commissioner to SinarMas Group Hana Multi-Finance having previously held senior positions within the region's banking sector, including that of Managing Director of PT Bank Danamon and Head of Treasury with Chase Manhattan Bank in Indonesia. He holds a Master of Science Degree from Portand State University in the USA.
With broad experience in banking, economics-including monetary policy- Agus brings high level expertise to the Indonesia Institute Inc.
Director
David Cook
Bio:
David has a relationship with Indonesia that spans three decades. He holds degrees in E-Governance, Asian Studies, International Relations, and Computing, and also holds an MBA. He is a researcher at the ECUSRI Security Research Institute and is a lecturer in the School of Science at Edith Cowan University.
David has worked and lived in Indonesia for several years specialising in the field of technology and communications. He is an strong advocate for technology implementation and adaptive change through Information Technology. Formerly the Chairman of the Australian Computer Society in Western Australia, David is a Fellow of the ACS. He oversees a range of grant-funded programs involving Cyber Security, Risk Management, and Technology Acceptance. David is passionate about the ongoing challenge to develop cooperation, understanding, information and opportunity between Indonesia and Australia.
Director
Kellie-Jane Pritchard
Bio:
Kellie-Jane has over 20 years work experience in international development and trade. She was the senior Western Australian Government representative responsible for trade and investment activities based in Jakarta, Indonesia from 2012-2015.
She previously managed AGWEST International, the WA Department of Agriculture and Food’s international services unit. In this role she worked with clients including major funding agencies, NGO’s, the private sector and Government Ministries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
Kelli-Jane is currently living in Jakarta and plans to return to study in 2016 to complete a Master’s degree in Development studies. She is a member of the IABC, the Jakarta Soroptimists and is an active supporter of The East Bali Poverty Project.
Director
Syahri Sakidin
Bio:
Before joining the Institute, Syahri Sakidin had spent 32 years in diplomatic service for Indonesian government and posted in various prominent Indonesian diplomatic missions in The Hague, Prague, London, and Tokyo. He was also served, among others, as Director of the Commission of Truth and Friendship of Indonesia and Timor Leste (2007-2008).
His last three years (2010-2013) in consular service as Consul of Indonesia in Perth has inspired him to help promote a closer and fruitful relations between Australia and Indonesia. Mr. Sakidin has gained his post graduate degree from Diplomatic Academy of London, University of Westminster.
Special Advisor: Barry Cowley
State Representatives: (Email: info@indonesia-institute.org.au)
ACT (Canberra): Peter Dawson
Victoria (Melbourne): Linda Briskman
NSW (Sydney): Lauren Gumbs
IT Team
Our IT support team: