ANU Indonesia Project

The 3rd Hendra Esmara Lecture on regional development will be delivered by Professor Arief Anshory Yusuf (Universitas Padjadjaran & Dewan Ekonomi Nasional) entitled "Seventy years of the Kuznets Curve: is education a facilitator of structural transformation or a driver of inequality?"

The second part of the seminar will discuss extractive industries and regional inequality with Professor Werry Darta Taifur (Universitas Andalas, and Professor Budy Resosudarmo Head of ANU Indonesia Project (Crawford School of Public Policy)

Wednesday, 1 July 2026 (hybrid in English) at 11:30-15.10 AEST
08.30 – 12.10 WIB
Register bit.ly/LECTURESERIES2026
Program details https://www.fkpindonesia.org/future-seminars/20260701

The Political Update is one of the most anticipated sessions of the Indonesia Update Conference each year, offering timely analysis of the political developments shaping Indonesia’s future.

In 2026, the Political Update will be delivered by Nava Nuraniyah of the School of International Studies, Macquarie University. In her presentation, "Indonesia in 2026: Accelerating Autocratisation and Misgovernance", Nava will examine the trajectory of Indonesian democracy two years into Prabowo Subianto’s presidency. She will explore concerns about democratic backsliding, governance challenges, and Indonesia’s development path, including findings from international indices that have further downgraded the country's democratic status.

We are delighted to welcome Nava back to the Indonesia Update. An alumna of ANU's Department of Political and Social Change and a previous Indonesia Update discussant, she returns this year to deliver one of the conference's signature sessions: the annual Political Update.

https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/indonesia-update-islamic-diversity-indonesia

We are pleased to announce that Dr Jenny Gordon will join Firman Witoelar as co-presenters of the Economic Update at the 2026 Indonesia Update Conference, Islamic Diversity in Indonesia.

Jenny is one of Australia’s leading economists and public policy experts, with extensive experience in economic reform, productivity, social policy, and Australia–Indonesia relations. As co-presenter of this year’s Economic Update, she will bring valuable insights into the economic trends, policy developments, and emerging challenges shaping Indonesia’s future.

📅 18–19 September 2026
📍 The Australian National University

Registrations are now open. Join us for ANU’s flagship conference on contemporary Indonesia and hear from leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from Australia and Indonesia. https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/indonesia-update-islamic-diversity-indonesia

We are pleased to welcome Firman Witoelar as co-presenter, alongside Jenny Gordon, of this year's Economic Update

Firman is an Associate Professor with the ANU Indonesia Project, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy. His research spans labour markets, poverty and inequality, human capital, and public policy, with a particular focus on how economic change affects households and communities across Indonesia. As co-presenter of this year’s Economic Update, he will bring deep expertise on Indonesia’s economic development and the policy challenges and opportunities shaping the country's future.

📅 18–19 September 2026
📍 The Australian National University

Registrations are now open. Join us for ANU’s flagship conference on contemporary Indonesia and hear from leading scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from Australia and Indonesia. https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/indonesia-update-islamic-diversity-indonesia

Indonesia and Australia: Navigating an Uncertain Indo-Pacific

Join H.E. Arif Havas Oegroseno, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, for a public lecture on the challenges and opportunities facing Indonesia and Australia in an increasingly uncertain Indo-Pacific region.

📅 Wednesday, 1 July 2026
🕔 Reception from 5.00pm | Lecture 5.30–7.00pm
📍 Molonglo Theatre, ANU

Hosted by the ANU Indonesia Institute and the East Asian Bureau of Economic Research.

🔗 Register via this link https://events.humanitix.com/indonesia-and-australia-navigating-an-uncertain-indo-pacific

Meet K Keynote Speaker for the 43rd Indonesia Update, Professor Emeritus Greg Fealy from the Department of Political and Social Change, College of Asia & the Pacific at ANU.

For more than three decades, Emeritus Professor Fealy has been at the forefront of research and public engagement on Indonesia. He has helped deepen Australian understanding of Indonesia and strengthen connections between the two countries. His expertise in political Islam, democratic development, and religion in contemporary Indonesian politics makes this keynote address one not to miss.

Join us for this keynote session at the 43rd Indonesia Update. Registration is now open. For the program and registration, visit: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/indonesia-update-islamic-diversity-indonesia

We are delighted to announce that registration is now open for the 43rd Indonesia Update, 'Islamic diversity in Indonesia', to be held on 18-19 September 2026 at The Australian National University.

This year’s conference will explore Islamic diversity in today’s Indonesia through a wide lens, aimed at four themes:
- Embracing differences
- Insisting on difference
- Institutions
- Mediating difference

The event will be held in a hybrid format, with both in-person and online participation options available. Please find the relevant links below:
- Program details: bit.ly/IndonesiaUpdate43
- In-person registration: https://IndonesiaUpdate2026.eventbrite.com.au
- Online registration: https://bit.ly/IndoUpdate43Online

With support from ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs; Asia & the Pacific at ANU; Crawford School of Public Policy

Save the Date! Join us for the 9th Hadi Soesastro Policy Forum 2026, held in collaboration with CSIS Indonesia - Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

How are U.S. policies and geopolitical tensions reshaping the global economy? Join Dr Narongchai Akrasanee at this year's forum, The Reconfiguration of the Global Economic Order: Geopolitical Tensions, U.S. Policies, Strategic Competition, and Implications for East Asia, as he explores the implications for East Asia and the region's future.

📅 Thursday, 9 July 2026
🕤 9.30 am – 12.30 pm WIB
📍 CSIS Auditorium, Pakarti Center Building, Level 3, Jakarta

The program is now available. To view the program and register, please visit: https://crawford.anu.edu.au/event/hadi-soesastro-policy-forum-2026

Thank you to everyone who joined this week's Indonesia Study Group featuring Campbell Macknight ( Asia & the Pacific at ANU) , who presented "How South Sulawesi Upsets Ideas About Indonesian History."

During the seminar, we explored the rich history of South Sulawesi and its literary traditions, examining how the development of Bugis and Makassar states, alongside distinctive writing systems and texts, offers alternative perspectives on Indonesian history. The discussion highlighted the value of South Sulawesi's historical and literary heritage in broadening our understanding of Indonesia's diverse past.

We thank Campbell for sharing his insights and all participants who contributed to the engaging discussion both in person and online.

For those who missed the session, access the recording and slides on our online archive: https://www.indonesiaproject.net/isg-2026