australian delegates
Aaron Bywater
Aaron Bywater is a freshwater and marine biologist experienced in seagrass physiology and genetics research, and coral reef conservation and restoration. He currently works at Edith Cowan University as a research assistant and student ambassador for the school of science and mathematics. Aaron spent a year in Fiji as a New Colombo Plan scholar, completing his undergraduate studies at the University of the South Pacific and working as an intern at an international NGO called Corals for Conservation. He also spent time in Indonesia interning with Universitas Bangka Belitung to learn about the impacts of tin sand mining, in addition to undertaking language training for Bahasa Indonesia. Aaron is also preparing to commence a Master’s by Research in 2025, investigating the impacts of catchment degradation on downstream coral reef diseases in Fiji.
Amanda Haddow
Amanda Haddow is a Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research, contributing expertise on international education in development and diplomacy. She holds a Master of Evaluation from the University of Melbourne and a Master of International Development Practice from Monash University. Since 2016, Amanda has helped lead the DFAT Australia Awards Global Tracer Facility, which has produced over 40 studies collecting data to examine the long-term outcomes of alumni and organisational partnerships from Australian government scholarships and fellowships. She has run studies evaluating the program’s impact in collaboration with stakeholders around the world, including Indonesia. Amanda has published journal articles and presented at conferences in Australia and internationally on research methodology, international scholarships, aid and soft power. Before joining ACER, Amanda was a policy intern at the United Nations World Food Programme in Italy and a project manager for a youth financial literacy program in rural Cambodia.
Ash Stewart
Ash Stewart is an Education Programs Coordinator at Asialink, part of the University of Melbourne. He has worked in education for more than a decade as a teacher, school leader, and language instructor. Ash currently designs, develops, implements and evaluates learning programs that foster intercultural understanding and global citizenship among students, teachers, and professionals across Australia and Asia. Having originally studied Indonesian language in Tasmania, Ash went on to study at four different universities in Indonesia. He has experience teaching in public, private, and international schools, and is an advocate for learning new languages. Ash enjoys travelling in Indonesia and has a keen interest in history and current affairs. A passionate foodie, he believes that every meal is better with Indonesian sambal.
Bayan Yazdani
Bayan Yazdani is a Facilitator with AFS Intercultural Programs and Value Learning Intercultural Specialists. As an experienced management consultant, he also recently worked with Australia’s Mission to the World Trade Organization. He currently delivers programs aiming to enhance the intercultural understanding of students and educators across the Indo-Pacific by, for example, facilitating AFS’ first iteration of its Global STEM Accelerators Program in Australia and New Zealand. Bayan’s leadership in youth diplomacy and promoting intercultural understanding has been recognised by diverse individuals, institutions and civil society organisations. He serves on the panel of judges to assess applications and ultimately select the Australian delegates for the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program (AIYEP). Bayan is also assisting with the 2024 implementation of AIYEP, helping the Indonesian delegates settle into Australia. He is conversational in Indonesian and previously volunteered with the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association and as a Partnerships Officer with the National Australia Indonesia Language Awards.
Charlie Barnes
Charlie Barnes is an economist with a deep commitment to strengthening Australia-Indonesia relations. Charlie is currently an Analyst at Mandala Partners and was previously a Graduate at the Reserve Bank of Australia where he worked in the International Department. Before that he spent six months with BowerGroupAsia in Jakarta analysing Indonesia’s political and policy environment. Charlie has a long history of engagement with Indonesia, including through the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association and the National Australia-Indonesian Language Awards. He spent a year and a half as the Indonesia Fellow on the New Colombo Plan Scholar studying at Universitas Gadjah Mada University and Universitas Indonesia. Charlie holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Asian Studies from the Australian National University, where he majored in Southeast Asian Studies and Indonesian Language. Charlie speaks fluent Indonesian and French.
Chris Hunter
Chris Hunter leads the onshore investment attraction function focusing on South East Asia for Invest Victoria. Chris has worked with numerous companies from South East Asia to establish their presence in Victoria and refine their market entry strategy. Chris has 10 years experience in international investment attraction and trade development, based in Australia and South East Asia. Chris was formerly posted to the Victorian Government Office in Jakarta where he was the Strategic Advisor for South East Asia.
Dana Throssell
Dana Throssell is a young professional working in international cooperation and development, with a focus on Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Dana became passionate about Indonesian-Australia affairs after studying Asian Studies and International Security at the Australian National University, focusing on gender, non-traditional security and Indonesian studies. Dana was awarded the New Colombo Plan scholarship in 2019 and spent the year studying, interning, and conducting research in Yogyakarta, Jakarta, and Malang. Dana continued this engagement by conducting her Honours thesis on gender and deradicalisation in Indonesia, through her work as a Program Manager with the ASEAN-Australian Youth Strategic Partnership (AASYP) and as Vice Chair of the ACT chapter of the Australia-Indonesia Business Council. Dana has built a career in public policy and programs, development, and international cooperation, and is currently working with the Australian Government-funded Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) initiative as ASEAN and Vietnam Country Engagement Manager.
Gabriela Fernando
Dr. Gabriela Fernando is an Assistant Professor of Global Health and a member of the foundational academic team at Monash University, Indonesia. Her research focuses on global health equity, with an emphasis on the intersections of women’s health, gender equality, and poverty, particularly in South and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining Monash University, she completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the United Nations University – International Institute for Global Health. She holds a PhD in Global Health from the University of Queensland, Australia.
Jack Allen
Jack Allen is a proven policy and communications adviser with years of experience across politics, financial services, trade, and the law. Prior to his time in financial services, Jack was a senior adviser to numerous members of parliament, where he advised across portfolios including Consumer Affairs, Energy & Renewables, and Innovation. During his time in politics, Jack led on policy development, media engagement, and stakeholder outreach. Jack has an ongoing interest in trade issues, especially in Southeast Asia. He is a member of the Australia Indonesia Business Council’s Victorian Committee, and an affiliate of the Herb Feith Indonesian centre. He has authored published essays on the importance of Indonesian language learning, and is eager to revive the study of Bahasa within Australia through expanding work-integrated learning opportunities for high school students and those undertaking applied and vocational education. Jack holds a Bachelor of Laws and Arts from Monash University.
Laura Wallace
Laura Wallace is a PhD candidate at Monash University at the Herb Feith Indonesian Engagement Centre. Her PhD research is titled Problematised and Overlooked: What factors influence the sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing of young, “heterosexual” Indonesian men? and looks at the way young Indonesian men conceptualise their sexual identity and orientation, manage their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and what socio-cultural and structural factors influence these young men’s SRHR. Laura previously completed a Master of Translating and Interpreting at RMIT University where her minor thesis research project focused on Indonesian young adult’s SRHR information seeking behaviours and the ways in which increased access to digital technology in Indonesia influences this. Laura has previously lived and worked in Indonesia, volunteering through the Australian Volunteers Program in both non-profit and university settings.
Rameen Malik
Rameen Malik is a Fulbright Scholar who recently graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a Masters in Technology and Public Policy. She is a graduate researcher at the MIT Energy Initiative where she spent the last two years conducting stakeholder led research on building more sustainable and ethical Nickel to Electric Vehicle supply chains in Indonesia. Prior to this, she was a policy officer at the Australian Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water where she worked on electricity policy and international engagement for the resources sector. Rameen is also deeply passionate about creating spaces for diverse communities in STEM, the arts and sports by working closely with community organisations such as the Bankstown Poetry Slam and Swim Sisters. Rameen holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Sydney.
Sarah Binney
Sarah Binney is a young professional with a background in foreign policy, international development, and procurement and contract management support. Sarah works at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a Development Procurement Officer working to support the implementation of Australia’s International Development Program. Sarah is highly passionate about promoting Asia literacy and advancing Australia-Indonesia relations, as demonstrated through her 6 years on the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association (AIYA) ACT Chapter Executive. In 2023, Sarah served as AIYA ACT Chapter President and as a National Board Member, and was selected as an Australian Delegate to Bangka-Belitung Province with the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program. Sarah has advanced language proficiency in Bahasa Indonesia, with over thirteen years of Indonesian language study. Sarah is currently studying her Master of Global Public Policy at Monash University, and holds a Bachelor of Asian Studies and a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the Australian National University.
Thea Kurniawan
Thea Kurniawan is a chemical engineer with experience working in academia, mining, start-ups, health, consumer goods and chemical industries across Indonesia, USA and Australia. Currently, she is based in Jakarta, as the CTO of Tunas Resin, specialising in synthetic resins manufacture. Thea enjoys working with a diverse team to supply innovative research, business transformation and sustainable services across major projects and sectors internationally. Outside of work, Thea is an active volunteer and STEAM advocate with organisations like Engineers Without Borders, Millennium Kids, and TEDx. Her work has been acknowledged in Forbes Under 30, Asialink Business and Citizen of the Year Awards. She is one of the youngest inductees into the Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame for her extensive contributions to the community. Growing up in Asia and Australia, Thea believes in the importance of connecting people, cultures, and countries to spark positive change.