EDUCATION
2003 - 2007
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
WITH DISTINCTION
University of Western Australia
I obtained my PhD in Asian Studies at UWA in 2007. My dissertation "Reconceptualizing Ethnic Chinese Identity in Post-Suharto Indonesia" was awarded with "Distinction", a rare honor given to a handful of most outstanding dissertations at the university.
1998 - 2003
BACHELOR OF ARTS
FIRST CLASS HONORS
&
BACHELOR OF COMMERCE
The University of Western Australia
I completed my double degree in Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts in 2003, majoring in Accounting, Asian Studies and Indonesian. My BA was awarded First Class Honours, which led me to the prestigious Australia Postgraduate Award to pursue a PhD.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
2020 - 2021
KAICIID INTERNATIONAL FELLOW PROGRAMME
King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID)
The KAICIID Fellows Programme brings together leaders and educators from different religious backgrounds from around the world for training in dialogue facilitation, intercultural communication and promoting social cohesion by KAICIID experts. The programme equips Fellows with the skills to educate their students and communities about interreligious dialogue so they can become facilitators and leaders in the dialogue and active peace advocates in their communities.
May - June 2018
ASEAN PLUS THREE TRAINING PROGRAM ON UNDERSTANDING CHINA
Beijing Foreign Studies University
Organized by the Beijing Foreign Studies University, the ASEAN+3 Training Program was sponsored by the Chinese Government for diplomats and senior government officers from ASEAN to learn about China. In the three-week program, participants attended lectures delivered by top Chinese scholars, and visited major government and business sites . The program also included official visits to various cities in China including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuzhen and Shijiazhuang.
June 2015
GLOBAL BUSINESS ETHICS SYMPOSIUM & TEACHING WORKSHOP
Copenhagen Business School, Denmark
Organized by the Centre of Business Ethics at Bentley University (USA) and the Copenhagen Business School, the Symposium brought together international academicians, corporate and civil society leaders, and the media to explore best practices and challenges in business ethics and ethics education.The workshop facilitated a platform for discussions among professors from different disciplines on ethical theory and corporate responsibility.
June 2013
INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT TEACHERS ACADEMY
CEEMAN International Association for Management Development, Slovenia.
The two-week program was designed to improve competences and skills integral to specific managerial disciplines, and provides input essential in other areas of a faculty member's professional life, such as consulting, institution development and administration, and social responsibility. I successfully completed the track on "Business and Society" in the Academy.
August - November 2009
DEVELOPING CONVERSATION CIRCLES: BUILDING CAPACITY FOR INTERFAITH DIALOGUE & ENGAGEMENT
The Harmony Centre, Singapore
The program included 12 sessions of workshops covering topics on religious and racial conflicts, models of inter-religious dialogue, the role of religion in peace building and developing community through mutual respect, trust and understanding. As a trained facilitator, I have been running conversation circles in my teaching practices as well as in various dialogue session that I facilitate.
February - October 2005
POSTGRADUATE TEACHING INTERNSHIP SCHEME
University of Western Australia
Under this scheme, I taught two courses and completed the “Foundations of University Teaching and Learning” program which ran for a total of 33 hours (2 hours fortnightly seminar) over a period of eight months. I was trained in different teaching methods and had engaged in discussions and debates about issues related to teaching and learning in a tertiary level.
WORK EXPERIENCE
July 2017 - June 2025
PROFESSOR & DIRECTOR
Institute of Asian Studies &
Centre for Advanced Research
Universiti Brunei Darussalam
CARe is a premier research centre commissioned by His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei to conduct impactful empirical research on social issues in Brunei Darussalam. As the Director, I defined the Centre's strategic direction, implement business plans, establish and maintain interdisciplinary and international collaborations, allocate budget, manage research projects, ensure effective governance and delivery of high impact research outcomes. I was also a Principal Officer and Senate member at the University, and I sat on various institutional and university-level committees.
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June 2011 - Present
ADJUNCT
RESEARCH FELLOW
School of Social Sciences
University of Western Australia
I was awarded this position in recognition to my "significant contribution to the work and activities of the University". I was the Partner Investigator of a large Australia Research Council Discovery Project grant on "Education for Multicultural and Tolerant Indonesia" with a research team at UWA from 2008-2012. I contribute to adjunct teaching and collaborative research with colleagues at UWA.
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June 2008 - June 2016
ASSISTANT
PROFESSOR
School of Social Sciences
Singapore Management University
I was an award-winning professor and researcher at SMU: I won the SMU Teaching Excellence Award in 2012 and SMU Research Excellence Award in 2014. I was also Sin Lun Fellow at SMU from 2014 to 2016. I taught courses on Asian identities, diversity management and Indonesian studies at SMU. I was also a co-founder of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at SMU.
2016 - 2017
MASTER TRAINER
Caliper Human Strategies Pte Ltd
Singapore
Caliper is an international human resource consulting firm that provides scientific profile assessment widely used in business organizations. My role at Caliper Singapore encompassed offering consultancy and executive trainings to corporations on diversity and inclusion, and developing effective teamwork using approaches in dialogue and reflexivity.
ADVISORY AND EDITORIAL BOARD
October 2018 - Present
HONORARY DIRECTOR
Brunei Research Centre &
Institute of Brunei Studies
College of ASEAN Studies
Guangxi Minzu University
China
2021-Present
HONORARY ADVISOR
Multi-Faith and Multicultural Centre
Pure Land Learning College Association Inc., Toowoomba, Australia
2024 - Present
ADVISOR
Centre for Southeast Asian Studies
South China Normal University
China
2024 - Present
ADVISOR
Centre for Interfaith and Multicultural Studies
Universitas Satya Terra Bhinneka
Indonesia
2021 - 2022
ADVISOR
EVYD Knowledge Hub
Singapore and Brunei
2024 - Present
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Asia in Transition Book Series
SpringerNature
2022
PANEL OF EXPERTS
ASEAN Commentary
Guangxi Daily
2018 - Present
EDITORIAL BOARD
Asia-Pacific Journal on Religion and Society
British Journal of Religious Education
Global Chinese Review
Lingua Cultura
Journal of ASEAN Plus+ Studies
Malaysian Journal of Chinese Studies
Mindanao Affairs
VISITING POSITIONS
March 2025
VISITING PROFESSOR
Sciences Po Lyon
France
2024 - 2029
VISITING PROFESSOR
College of ASEAN Studies
Guangxi Minzu University
China
2023-2024
VISITING SENIOR FELLOW
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies - Yusof Ishak Institute
Singapore
June - October 2022
VISITING
PROFESSOR
Fulbright University
Vietnam
2020-2021
FELLOW
International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID)
Portugal
Fall 2017
VISITING FELLOW
Fudan University
China
2010
VISITING FELLOW
Centre for Strategic and International Studies
Indonesia
Fall 2008
AFFILIATED FELLOW
Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV)
The Netherlands
ACCOLADES
2017
ASEAN-CHINA VISITING SCHOLAR AWARD
Fudan University, China
2014
SMU RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARD
Singapore Management University
2012
SMU TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Singapore Management University
2008
POSTDOCTORAL PUBLICATION AWARD
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Western Australia
2008
HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES PUBLICATION AWARD
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Western Australia
2007
'DISTINCTION' IN PHD
University of Western Australia
2004
POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH TRAVEL AWARD
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Western Australia
2003
AUSTRALIAN POSTGRADUATE AWARD
University of Western Australia
2003
DEAN’S POSTGRADUATE TRAVEL AWARD
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Western Australia
2002
SIR HAROLD BAILEY MEMORIAL PRIZE
Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
University of Western Australia
MEDIA INTERVIEWS
TELEVISION
Phoenix TV, Hong Kong
Channel News Asia, Singapore
SBO TV, Surabaya, Indonesia
Razor TV, Singapore
Channel 5, Singapore
Channel 8, Singapore
Zhengzhou News TV, China
RADIO
ABC Radio, Australia
SBS Radio, Australia
Stratos FM, Indonesia
China Radio International
938 LIVE, Singapore
NEWSPAPERS
BBC
Bloomberg News
Borneo Bulletin
The Telegraph
The Diplomat
The Straits Times
Asia Times Online
South China Morning Post
China Daily
The International Chinese Newsweekly
People’s Daily Online
The Jakarta Post
Kompas
The Jakarta Globe
Antara News
Warta Ekonomi
Suara Pembaruan
Jakarta Media News
Islam Indonesia
Medan Business Daily
Media Permata
Andalas Daily
Indonesia Raya News
Indonesia Shang Bao
TODAY Singapore
Berita Harian
My Paper Singapore
Lianhe Zhaobao
United Daily News