Karina Akib, Co-founder and Managing Director
Karina works for Google supporting the growth of digital and small-medium businesses in Indonesia as a Strategic Partner Manager. Before Google she was a management consultant with Boston Consulting Group working in Jakarta, Singapore, Bangkok and Manila. Moving to Indonesia originally to learn more about her family heritage, she realized how vibrant the country was and how important it is to Australia. This importance has been even more obvious since working as a consultant advising several Australian companies looking to enter or grow their operations in one of the most vibrant regions in the world.
Karina is passionate about social entrepreneurship and technology as a way to deliver sustainable economic growth and jobs. She worked closely with World Economic Forum to design Indonesia’s first impact investing fund and has advised several social businesses including Yaysan Anak Cina Bangsa (YCAB) and Rekan Usaha Micro Anda(RUMA). Prior to joining BCG, she led a product launch at RUMA to use mobile phone technology as a tool to develop the livelihood of individuals at the base of the pyramid.
She graduated from The University of New South Wales, where she was a Co-op Scholar and completed a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies, Finance).
Tim Graham, Director of Media & Communications
Tim Graham is a recent graduate from Monash University, with a background in marketing and management. He is the Director of Communications for the Australia Indonesia Youth Association and, before joining the public service, worked in marketing and product management for SitePoint, a leading Australian internet company. Tim began studying Indonesian at high school in 2004, and has gone on to study and travel in-country.
Tom Coulter, Director of Program
Tom is a Senior Consultant with Cardno. In this role, Tom provides financial management and strategic oversight for a number of International Development projects for clients such as DFAT, USAID and DFID, as well as providing business development management support and generally assisting in the strategic management of the Indonesia office.
Tom previously spent two years as the principal of a strategic business consultancy firm which operates predominantly within the Australian and Indonesian markets, facilitating market entry for foreign clients into both Indonesia and Australia. Tom’s professional background also includes work in the legal and banking sectors within Australia.
In addition to his work in the private sector, Tom also sits on the board of a number of not for profit organisations. He is the Junior Vice President of the Indonesia Institute, a non-government think-tank and advocacy organisation based in Perth, Western Australia. Tom is also the Vice President of the Australian Indonesian Youth Association (WA) and a former Divisional President of the Liberal Party of Western Australia (WAULS). Tom was a delegate to CAUSINDY in 2014.
tom.coulter@causindy.org
Sekar Langit, Recruitment Officer
Sekar works at EDII (Electronic Data Interchange Indonesia), an IT Company that runs it’s business under IPC (Indonesia Port Corporation). She is responsible for the market growth of Electronic Data Interchange implementation in Export-Import and Supply Chain Management system.
Previously, she worked for Telkom International as a Business Consultant in Australia and United Kingdom project. As graduated from Telecommunication Engineering, she is really passionate in digital technologies.
She did a deep research in Power Line Communication which gives people another solution in building computer or internet network by using electricity cable that already exists. While in college, she worked as an English Tutor in some courses, a Technical Writer for some Fiber Optic installation projects and also interned at XL Axiata as a Network Engineer.
Sekar was also one of Indonesian delegates for a student exchange program in Japan.
Grace Dong, Program Coordinator
Grace Dong is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts/Law at Monash University and speaks Bahasa Indonesia and Mandarin. Amongst her many experiences in Indonesia, Grace has undertaken short-term studies at Gadjah Mada University, and a semester abroad at Parahyangan Catholic University as part of the ACICIS West Java Field Study Program where her field study focused on primary education and informal child labour in South Bandung. On the Australian side of education, Grace is an Indonesian content creator at The Language Barrier, a youth-led initiative promoting language studies in high schools, and has visited several schools in Melbourne, encouraging students to pursue Indonesian studies and engage in cultural exchange.
Grace has also spent time interning at the Jakarta office of the DFAT-funded Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice, managed by Cardno Emerging Markets, where she worked within the Community Legal Empowerment team focusing on rural areas of East Indonesia.
Natasha Burrows, Recruitment Officer
Natasha has a background in communications and deep affinity with Indonesia. Most recently, Natasha worked as Communications Officer for the Australian Consortium for ‘In-Country’ Indonesian Studies (ACICIS) in Yogyakarta. Prior to this, Natasha interned at the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre at the University of Sydney, and at the United States Consulate General Sydney. In 2013 Natasha completed Honours at the University of Sydney, writing about democratisation and governance in Indonesia with a focus on flooding in Jakarta. Natasha is currently Communications Officer for AIYA, as well as studying a Masters of Communication Management at UTS and a Diploma of Indonesian at the University of Sydney.
Fay Edwards, Program Coordinator
After a year spent living and studying in Indonesia as part of her Bachelor of Asia-Pacific studies at Australian National University, Fay has returned to begin a Master of Planning at the University of Technology, Sydney. She has been actively involved in the Asia-Pacific region, beginning with an intensive language course studied in Salatiga, Indonesia. Time spent in Vietnam and Japan has furthered her understanding of this region. Fay has worked as an intern for the National Farmers Federation in Canberra, as well as for the well-respected Non-Government Organisation, Mercy Corps, in Jakarta. She has completed a number of research projects both in Australia and overseas, with her most recent including a study on the Agricultural Trade between Indonesia and Australia, and Urban Agriculture in Indonesia. Fay has strong written and spoken communication skills in both Indonesian and English, and is a regular contributor to online magazines such as ‘The Monsoon Project’ (focused on the Asia-Pacific region). Fay remains a strong advocate for an integrated Asia-Pacific region, and looks forward to playing her part in developing and consolidating strong partnerships between Australia and its vibrant neighbours.
Heath Jamieson, Finance and Partnerships Officer
Heath is a management consultant with Bain & Company Southeast Asia, currently based in the Singapore office. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne. His interest in foreign affairs led to representing Australia at the G20 Youth Summit in Washington DC and the Australian Indonesian Youth Exchange Program held in West Sumatra. For his role as the Founding Director of The Language Barrier, Heath was recognised as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper in 2014 and is member of the Melbourne Hub.
Besides his interests in Indonesia, Heath is a keen cyclist and represented Australia at the Junior World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Edgar Myer, Finance and Partnerships Officer
Edgar Myer has a BA (Hons) from The University of Melbourne. He developed an interest in Indonesia following anthropological fieldwork in Flores, focusing on aid and development work, in 2012 and returning there in 2013. He has also worked as a senior academic language advisor in the Faculty of Sharia and Law at the State Islamic University in Jakarta. He is currently studying law at The University of Sydney.
Fletcher Miles, Logistics Officer
Fletcher currently lives in Bandung, Indonesia, where he is undertaking research on micro credit in conjunction with Parahyangan Catholic University and Bamboo Micro Credit Inc, an Australian based NGO. Before moving to Bandung he spent a semester in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, undertaking Indonesian language studies at Universitas Gadjah Mada and co-founded the Australia-Indonesia Youth Association Yogyakarta Chapter. Before Yogyakarta, he spent a semester in New York at Pace University Law School focusing on international law and arbitration.
He is currently completing three bachelor degrees at the University of Adelaide including a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of International Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce. Fletcher has previously held positions at Fisher Jeffries, an Adelaide based commercial law firm, the Australian Taxation Office, and Westpac Banking Corporation.
The absolutely incredible landscapes and cultural diversity of Indonesia never ceases to amaze Fletcher having in the last year travelled to Kalimantan, Flores, Bali, Java and Sumatra. He believes strongly in the importance of the Australia-Indonesia bilateral relationship and is looking forward to being a part of CAUSINDY in building stronger ties between the two countries.
Andrew Akib, Technology Coordinator
An entrepreneur at heart, Andrew is passionate about bringing ideas to life through arts & technology. Raised in Australia but of Indonesian heritage, Andrew has experienced first-hand the similarities and richness in diversities that a collaboration between Australian and Indonesian youth uncovers. Having worked in Technology roles in Australia & Indonesia, Andrew believes that communications technology & arts will play a pivotal role in closing cultural & economic gaps.
Andrew is currently a business design consultant at Accenture Digital. Prior to working as a Technology Consultant, Andrew ran a boutique web design and strategy business. He also worked closely in the social enterprise & charity space in Australia. He graduated from University of Technology Sydney, Bachelor Of Communication.
Andrew has represented Australia in Taekwondo, enjoys performing music, and currently manages an electronic music label.
Tim Cooke, Communications Coordinator
Tim has a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University, and is undertaking postgraduate study at Murdoch University. He has managed communications for one of Australia’s most successful digital startups and is presently coordinating social media for one of Australia’s most significant cultural institutions. Tim has previously interned with The South Western Times in WA and Sky News in Melbourne. He developed a strong interest in Southeast Asia, and particularly in Indonesia, though his grandparents and travelling throughout Java in 2012.
Alyssia Pasha Sastrosatomo, Recruitment Officer
Alyssia completed a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne, double majoring in Marketing and Business Management and was awarded the “New Generation International Undergraduate Scholarship”. During her time in Melbourne, Alyssia was active with the Indonesian Students Association of Australia (PPIA) where she was appointed as the National coordinator for merchandising and supply-chain.
She is currently an analyst at Astra International’s Group Corporate Development and Strategy, the division that is responsible for the formulation and implementation of the Group’s strategic agenda as well as to support corporate finance/ business development initiatives for one of Indonesia’s largest conglomerate companies.
It was during her time in the company that Alyssia realised Indonesia’s potential for growth, and developed a passion for exploration of the company’s role in the global economy.
Alyssia was also one of the 2013 CAUSINDY delegates representing Indonesia in Canberra.