Trisna
Mulyati

Tell us about yourself! 

I’m an Indonesian currently doing PhD in my third year at the Transdisciplinary School, UTS. My main field of study is innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging economies, with agritech ecosystems in Indonesia as the main empirical case. My research story was recently featured by UTS: Unlocking Agtech innovation. I’m also sometimes doing consultancy, teaching, and business. More recently too, I’d like to consider myself an active citizen/resident who is not afraid to speak up about the world’s growing issues, including supporting Indonesian activism. And above all, I am a mum to my 5 year old daughter 😊 

Where does your interest in Indonesia stem from? 

As I’m originally from Aceh, the lived experiences of being an Acehnese with its unique histories and characteristics has been most influential. I had the privilege of being raised by academic parents in the provincial capital, but my childhood was still marked by prolonged conflict and nature-related phenomena (including the 2004 tsunami). These were later complemented by my studies and works in engineering management across Indonesia and Australia. More personally, it deepened when I was a court witness in a UU-ITE case. It shaped my more active positionality on grassroots rights, agency, governance, and the consequences of policies and innovations. 

What is the nature of your engagement with Indonesia – are you an academic, a professional, an alumni? 

All of those, as I always feel like I am both an academic and a practitioner. I was once a lecturer in Industrial Engineering at an Indonesian university, and have been working professionally in development, startup, and consulting in Indonesia. While doing PhD, my most recent work was with ICENERGY Institute and ANGIN on research consulting for GSMA on AI Opportunities for Indonesian Smallholder Farmers. As for alumni, I did all my schooling in Banda Aceh before my bachelor's at ITB (Bandung), and then continued my master’s at UQ (Brisbane) thanks to the Australia Awards Scholarship.  

Have you ever been to an Indonesia Council Open Conference and if so, what is your fondest memory? 

Yes, I attended ICOC 2023 at the University of Sydney, which is the year I’m coming back to Australia, but before starting my PhD. I got to share some insights from my recent work at an agritech startup unicorn (not as an academic), which was the foundation of my PhD research proposal. ICOC was especially meaningful as it marked my first re-engagement with academia since 2019 when I resigned from lecturer role in Indonesia. During ICOC, the experience of learning from and participating in insightful academic discussions further convinced me to pursue a PhD. A few months later, I received the UTS scholarship and began my PhD in 2024. 

How do you think organisations like Indonesia Council can improve Australia-Indonesia relations? 

Really appreciate all the great work IC is already doing. Especially in supporting emerging scholars, for example through the conference fund award that will support my first attendance at the upcoming ASAA conference. I’m looking forward to more IC updates and activities that consistently amplify diverse Australia-Indonesia perspectives and encourage long-term relations beyond transactional ties. Towards more empathetic, respectful, and resilient engagement. Shout out to IC’s recent petition regarding the sensitive Andrie Yunus case, which demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to academic freedom and inclusive safe spaces. 

What are some of the challenges and opportunities in the Indonesia-Australia relationship? 

Drawing on my own exposures, one of the recurring challenges is the tension between goodwill and genuine equity – for example, knowledge and technology transfer that risk reinforcing inequality rather than mutual and inclusive capability. As a student who received scholarship twice from Australia, as well as a professional who has worked with Australian organisations, I am hopeful that the two countries' relationship is on the right track. Especially amid growing turbulence in Western and Gulf countries. The opportunity lies in people-to-people efforts to reframe towards thoughtful co-development. 

Tell us about your favourite Indonesian food experience 

For experience, my first top of mind right now is “mie telur pedas” by the Lampuuk beach in my hometown. They cook it with specific Aceh spices, and the ocean view is just unbeatable. Recommended for anyone visiting Banda Aceh, only 30 minutes drive from city centre. 

What’s your favourite Indonesian food and why? 

There are too many, but I’m currently craving a great Soto Betawi. Because I love slow-cooked meat in thick broth with strong flavours of Indonesian spices. 

What’s your favourite Indonesian music/song/writer? 

I enjoy folk pop and reflective music. One of the Indonesian songs on repeat: Payung Teduh’s Tidurlah.  

What’s your favourite Indonesian idiom? 

“Api Dalam Sekam" which means hidden simmering danger or malicious action that is not immediately visible, similar to how fire burns slowly under “sekam” (rice husks) without producing much smoke initially but can become a major fire disaster.

[Last month’s PAY IT FORWARD question]:
If you had a magic wand, what is the one thing about Indonesia you would change and what is the one thing you would preserve for all eternity? 

To change: the entrenched money politics everywhere from party systems to universities 
To preserve: the indigenous wisdoms from the different local cultures (hundreds of them) 

And don’t forget to suggest a pay it forward question for next month 😊 : 

Tell us a story about an Indonesian or Indonesianist that you think others should know too, and why? Could be an everyday person, does not have to be a popular one.