Meet the Academic Program Officers (APOs) for the Acicis 2026 -2027 Professional Practicum and the Tour Leader for the Public Health Immersion Program.
Agriculture Professional Practicum
Nadia Awalina Bunga Massita is a lecturer and researcher in Agroindustrial Product Development at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia, where she teaches and conducts applied research in food science, food processing, and product development. She holds an MSc in Food Science and Technology from The University of Queensland, Australia, where her research explored sweetness perception and sensory science. Her academic work focuses on understanding how food composition, processing, and preservation influence flavour perception and sensory quality, particularly in fresh and minimally processed foods. Alongside her teaching and research, Nadia is involved in community engagement initiatives that promote food innovation, value-added local products, and the application of appropriate food-processing technologies to support local producers.
As Program Officer for the Agriculture Professional Practicum at Acicis, Nadia works at the intersection of education, agriculture, and cross-cultural exchange. She is passionate about helping students discover the many dimensions of Indonesia’s agricultural sector, from local food systems and small-scale producers to the innovations shaping the future of food. Her work brings together her interests in food science, community engagement, and experiential learning, while encouraging students to approach new environments with curiosity and an open mind. She sees international education as an opportunity not only to develop professional skills, but also to build meaningful connections and gain a deeper appreciation of the people, cultures, and perspectives that make each learning experience unique.
Business Professional Practicum
Ebi Junaidi is an economist and academic currently serving as an Independent Expert for the European Union Indonesia Cooperation Facility and as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics, University of Indonesia. His recent leadership and consulting experience includes working as the Chief Economist for Samudera Indonesia from 2023 to 2026 and as a Short Term Consultant for The World Bank Group from 2025 to 2026. He earned a Ph.D. in Islamic Finance from Durham University Business School, a Master of Financial Management from The University of Melbourne, and an undergraduate degree in Economics and Development Study from the University of Indonesia.
His primary research and teaching interests encompass macroeconomics, Islamic finance, logistics, the maritime industry, and the blue economy. An active contributor to public and economic discourse, he has published policy articles in international and national media, including The World Financial Review and The Jakarta Post.
Throughout his career, Ebi has led highly impactful consultancy projects, including supply chain and logistics analyses for the International Finance Corporation, ERIA, and BAPPENAS. He also brings a strong track record of institutional leadership and public service, having served as the Chairman of the British Islamic Economics Society (MES-UK) and previously as a Legislative Advisor for the member of Indonesian House of Representatives.
Creative Arts & Design Professional Practicum
Dyah Pandam Mitayani (Mita) is an exhibition designer and cultural heritage professional. She holds a Master’s degree in Education in Arts & Cultural Settings from King’s College London.
Mita is the Co-Founder of Southeast Asia Museum Services (SEAMS), a consultancy specialising in exhibition design, museum interpretation, cultural heritage research, and education. She sees exhibition design as part of the storytelling and curatorial process, bringing together research, interpretation, and design to create meaningful visitor experiences. She has worked with museums, cultural institutions, artists, and creative practitioners across Southeast Asia and Australia.
Mita first became the Academic Program Officer for the Acicis Creative Arts and Design Professional Practicum (CADPP) in 2024. She enjoys introducing students to Indonesia’s creative scene and connecting them with local artists, designers, and cultural practitioners. She is based in Yogyakarta, where she spends her free time with her cats.
Development Studies Professional Practicum
Maharani Hapsari is Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada and has been teaching since 2005. She is also Director of the Center for World Trade Studies (CWTS), Universitas Gadjah Mada. Maharani has been part of the international academic networks hosted by the WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) since 2019 and now is serving as the Chair of WCP Indonesia. Maharani obtained her B.A. in Political Science in 2001 from Universitas Gadjah Mada, Master’s Degree in 2010 and Ph.D degree in 2012 from the Graduate School of International Development (GSID), Nagoya University, Japan. She has over 15-year experience in the field of international development, provides consultancy with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Her research interest covers development in emerging economies, trade, development, and sustainability nexus, as well as knowledge co-production in global political ecology transition.
Journalism Professional Practicum
Ria Ernunsari, S. IP, MA. joined Acicis after a career spanning journalism, documentary production, strategic communications, and international development. She began her career as a television reporter and producer with SCTV and Trans TV before working with organisations including GIZ, Hivos, Save the Children, the World Bank, and other development partners. A Chevening Scholar, Ria holds an MA in Television Features and Documentary Production from the University of Salford, UK. She is also a Senior Commissioning Editor at 360info, a global newswire that transforms academic research into accessible stories for the public and is hosted by The Australian National University.
As Academic Program Officer for the Journalism Practicum, Ria enjoys helping students navigate Indonesia’s dynamic media landscape and gain meaningful professional experience. Drawing on her work as a journalist, documentary producer, editor, lecturer, and communications strategist, she supports students throughout their internships and academic journey. She believes some of the most valuable learning happens beyond the classroom, through curiosity, reflection, and real-world experiences, and enjoys connecting students with the people, stories, and ideas that shape contemporary Indonesia.
Law Professional Practicum
Theresia Dyah Wirastri, Ph.D. is an Acicis Program Officer for the November 2026 and January 2027 Law Practicum Program. She holds a PhD from the Institute for Asian and African Studies at Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. She is currently based at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia. Dyah teaches, among other subjects, Law and Gender, Sociology of Law, and Socio-Legal Research Methods at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has been involved in numerous consultancy projects focusing on democracy, human rights, and the legal protection of women and marginalised groups in Indonesia. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, going to the cinema, and cooking.
Public Health Immersion Program’s Tour Leader
Dr Emily Rowe is an Australian born, Bali based health anthropologist and public health specialist with over 15 years’ experience managing, working on and coordinating public health projects and research activities related to gender, HIV, sex workers, LGBTQI people, people who use drugs, harm reduction, people with disabilities, prison health and sexual and reproductive health rights.
She has worked on public health projects in Indonesia, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, Nepal, Myanmar, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Mongolia, Iran, Tajikistan, Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka and Kenya. She is an Acicis alumni and especially passionate about community based participatory research and public health initiatives that promote equity in health and those that amplify the voice of marginalised populations in lower middle-income countries.
