Ryan Eka Permana Sakti (Sakti) is a strategist and former government advisor with over a decade of experience at the intersection of law, policy, and strategic communications.
He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Northbound Strategies, a firm helping public and private institutions navigate Indonesia’s complex policy, political, and regulatory landscape with clarity, credibility, and purpose. Academically trained as a lawyer with expertise in financial crimes and public policy.
Sakti began his career in government as Associate Director at the President’s Delivery Unit (UKP4) under the leadership of the late Prof. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto and Mas Achmad Santosa. He later served the Vice President, contributing to high-profile cases such as the Bank Century resolution, Mutual Legal Assistance frameworks, and capacity building program for international arbitration.
Sakti holds an LL.B. from Universitas Indonesia and an LL.M. from Cardiff Law School as a Chevening Scholar awarded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth Office. He also led the Indonesian Research Center for Anti-Money Laundering, working closely with Bank Indonesia, OJK, and PPATK. In the private sector, Sakti spearheaded policy, regulatory, and stakeholder engagement strategies for Gojek (2017–2020, pre-IPO), driving reforms in ride-hailing and the gig economy.
He also led public affairs, regulatory engagement, and corporate communications at Change.org Indonesia, Hijra Bank, and ALAMI Fintech- the biggest Indonesian Sharia-based productive peer-to-peer lending.
Before founding Northbound Strategies, he was Corporate Secretary of InJourney Destinations (part of Danantara), and has advised key public institutions and SOEs, including PLN, Pegadaian, Pupuk Indonesia, PIP, LPDP, and LMAN. At Northbound Strategies, Sakti combines legal rigor, policy insight, and narrative clarity—anchoring the firm’s mission to lead policy advocacy with empathy, precision, and impact.
Mohamad Nurreza Rachman (Reza) is a public policy and government relations specialist with a proven track record of building strategic partnerships and shaping policy across Indonesia’s public and private sectors.
He is the Co-Founder and Partner at Northbound Strategies. Before co-founding the firm, Reza served as Associate Vice President of Government Relations at Zenius (2020–2024), where he launched and led the company’s first government relations division.
He forged partnerships with more than 100 local governments and central ministries, advancing literacy, numeracy, access to higher education, and teacher training programs.
His work supported flagship national initiatives, including Kartu Prakerja and Kampus Merdeka, while ensuring regulatory compliance. From 2017 to 2020, Reza was Government Relations and Public Affairs Manager at Gojek, navigating complex regulatory environments, managing crisis responses in 20 cities, and leading expansion into 10 new markets.
His portfolio spanned transportation, logistics, sustainability, and compliance. Reza began his career at PT Antam Tbk., developing education-focused CSR programs that built community trust and supported business sustainability.
As a Pengajar Muda with Indonesia Mengajar, he taught in remote Maluku and led grassroots initiatives to improve education in underserved communities. He has held leadership roles in industry bodies, including serving on the Education and Culture Committee at KADIN Indonesia (2021–2024) and the Education and Labour Committee at the Indonesia E-Commerce Association (2018–2024).
He currently supports the Tanoto Foundation on development projects to strengthen education and community outcomes. Reza is a graduate of Universitas Indonesia, holding a Bachelor of Economics (cum laude) and a Diploma in Accounting Information Systems.
Dr. Mulya E. Siregar is a distinguished Indonesian banking regulator and policy leader with more than four decades of experience shaping the nation’s financial system, with a particular focus on the growth and supervision of Islamic banking.
He serves as a Senior Member of Board of Expert at Northbound Strategies, bringing unmatched regulatory insight and institutional leadership to the firm’s advisory work. Dr. Siregar’s public service career includes senior leadership at both Bank Indonesia and the Financial Services Authority (OJK), where he served as Deputy Commissioner for Banking Supervision.
He has also chaired the boards of Commissioner of PT Bank Syariah Indonesia Tbk and PT Bank Syariah Mandiri, playing a pivotal role in strengthening governance and guiding the consolidation of Indonesia’s Islamic banking sector.
As Assistant Governor and Director of Islamic Banking at Bank Indonesia, he was instrumental in establishing the regulatory framework that positioned Indonesia as a global hub for Islamic finance.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from IPB University, and earned both his Master of Science in Agricultural Economics and Ph.D. in Consumer Economics from The Ohio State University, sponsored by Bank Indonesia.
He is certified in seven areas of banking risk management and has completed executive programs at Harvard University, University of Cambridge, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), and the World Bank Group.
Dr. Siregar currently serves on the Supervisory Board of the Indonesian Sharia Bank Association (Asbisindo) for the 2024–2027 term and as Senior Advisor to the Board of the Indonesian Banking Development Institute (LPPI). He currently also serves as an Independent Commissioner of PT Bank BTPN Syariah Tbk for the term 2023 – 2026. Widely respected for his intellectual depth and steady leadership, he continues to shape financial governance in Indonesia’s evolving banking landscape.
Firry Wahid (Firry) is a seasoned public policy advisor and strategic affairs expert with more than 15 years of experience in government relations, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory affairs.
He serves as a Member of Board of Expert at Northbound Strategies, bringing deep expertise in navigating complex policy environments and building effective cross-sector partnerships.
Firry currently holds the position of Senior Advisor at the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment, where he supports multi-sector policy design and coordination to advance inclusive development.
He is widely recognized for his strong understanding of Indonesia’s healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors—expertise shaped by early leadership roles at Novartis and as Coordinator of Expert Staff in Commission IX of the Indonesian House of Representatives, focusing on health, labor, and social protection.
Since 2020, he has served on the Board of Experts of the Regional Public Hospital Association (ARSADA), representing over 800 local government-owned hospitals nationwide. In the private sector, Firry has led high-stakes public policy initiatives for global and regional companies, including ByteDance, RedDoorz, and Gojek, where he helped shape constructive dialogue between the private sector and government on digital governance, platform regulation, and industry growth.
Firry holds a Master of Laws in International Business and Trade from the University of Canberra and a Law degree from Universitas Padjadjaran. His ability to bridge public and private perspectives makes him a trusted voice in advancing policy solutions that balance innovation, regulation, and public interest.
Muhammad Rifky Wicaksono (Rifky) brings academic depth, legal precision, and sharp regulatory insight to his role as Member of the Board of Experts at Northbound Strategies. His expertise spans competition law, the digital economy, institutional design, and public interest regulation, fields where policy is rapidly evolving and strategic clarity is critical.
Rifky is currently pursuing a DPhil in Law at the University of Oxford, researching the role of antitrust law in the age of algorithmic and platform power, with a focus on emerging economies.
He also lectures at Universitas Gadjah Mada, mentoring Indonesia’s next generation of legal thinkers and public leaders. He holds an LL.M. from Harvard Law School, where he earned the Dean’s Scholar Prize for Comparative and International Dispute Resolution, and an MJur (Distinction) from the University of Oxford as a Jardine Foundation Scholar.
Before his doctoral and teaching career, Rifky was an Associate at Assegaf Hamzah & Partners (AHP), advising and representing clients in high-stakes disputes civil, criminal, environmental, and arbitration—while handling regulatory compliance in anti-corruption, competition law, public-private partnerships, and fraud.
He also represented clients before the Indonesian National Board of Arbitration (BANI). Rifky is an active contributor to global legal discourse, having presented at forums including UNCTAD, ASCOLA, and the Oxford Centre for Competition Law and Policy. His writings on regulatory governance, institutional resilience, and digital power concentration are widely referenced in both academic and policy circles.
At Northbound Strategies, Rifky combines intellectual rigor with a strong understanding of how law and policy shape real lives turning complex legal theory into actionable strategies for clients navigating Indonesia’s policy and regulatory environment.
Ibrahim Kholilul Rohman is a leading voice in Indonesia’s digital economy and financial innovation landscape.
He serves as Head of IFG Progress, the policy and research think tank of Indonesia Financial Group, where he leads strategic studies on how digital transformation is reshaping the financial sector, with a particular focus on the insurance and pension industries.
His career bridges public policy, academia, and industry. Prior to his current role, he was Chief Economist at Samudera Indonesia, one of the country’s most historic shipping companies. Earlier, he spent more than a decade in Europe in research positions at the United Nations University in Portugal and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre in Spain, contributing to the EU’s flagship Digital Progress Report and influential studies on digital policy and broadband economics.
Ibrahim holds a Ph.D. in Technology Management and Economics from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, as well as bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Indonesia, where he now teaches courses on the digital economy.
A widely published academic and commentator, his research has appeared in Telecommunications Policy and Science and Public Policy, alongside more than 30 opinion articles in The Jakarta Post. Known for bridging academic insight with regulatory and commercial priorities, Ibrahim shapes public discourse on digital policy, innovation ecosystems, and the future of inclusive finance in Indonesia and beyond.
Dr. Fitriani Ahlan Sjarif is a senior lecturer in Administrative Law at the Faculty of Law, Universitas Indonesia (FHUI), where she has taught since 1999. Her scholarship focuses on legislative drafting, regulatory governance, and administrative law reform, underpinned by her doctoral research on the delegation of legislative authority in Indonesia (1999–2012). She also serves as the Chairwoman of ASIPPER (Asosiasi Pengajar Ilmu Per-Undang-Undangan).
She holds her Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral degrees in Law from Universitas Indonesia. Internationally trained in legislative drafting through programs at the Australian National University and Boston University under AusAID and USAID sponsorships, Dr. Fitri has served as a legal expert and trainer in numerous national and international forums on lawmaking and policy reform.
Her applied policy experience includes serving as a member of the Jakarta Governor’s Delivery Unit for Development Acceleration and as a legal expert for the COVID-19 Task Force. She teaches at Universitas Nasional and continues to contribute her expertise to national and local governments, advancing legal drafting capacity and public sector reform.
Rumayya Batubara is a development economist and policy researcher with over 15 years of experience bridging government, academia, and civil society.
His work focuses on local economic development, social protection, gender inclusion, and green transformation helping shape the future of inclusive policymaking in Indonesia. Since 2009, he has served as Lecturer in Economics at Universitas Airlangga, teaching public economics, regional development, and policy research.
Beyond academia, he advises national and provincial governments, international development partners, and civil society organizations, translating evidence into actionable strategies.
His research spans village governance, social forestry, gender equity in rural economies, and public finance innovation, often applying mixed-methods evaluations, randomized trials, and spatial data analytics. He has led multi-institutional projects under DFAT’s INKLUSI and KONEKSI programs, and advised UNICEF on subnational financing reform. Rumayya holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Western Australia, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from leading Indonesian and Australian universities.
An alumni of Australia Awards and recipient of the Hadi Soesastro Prize, he also serves as Advisor at RISED, one of Indonesia’s premier policy think tanks. His work has been published in People and Nature, Asian Development Review, and Development Studies Research. Whether in the classroom or the field, Rumayya brings rigor, empathy, and a deep sense of public purpose to advancing equitable and evidence-based policy.
Try Luthfi Nugroho (Luthfi) is an economic and public policy strategist with extensive experience in digital economy, grassroots advocacy, and stakeholder engagement across both public and private sectors.
He previously led public affairs at Think Policy Indonesia, where he directed political engagement, policy research, and strategic communications to elevate inclusive policy discourse most notably through the Bijak Memilih (Vote Wisely) movement, which engaged all 18 political parties ahead of the 2024 General Election.
In earlier roles, Luthfi served at the Executive Office of the President of Indonesia, contributing to national policy reforms on Kartu Prakerja (Pre-Employment Card), social protection for gig workers and agricultural subsidy targeting.
He also held key roles at Gojek and GoTo Group, managing government relations and leading multi-billion IDR investment initiatives for MSME empowerment.
Luthfi has advised development programs in collaboration with institutions like Kominfo, Prospera, and CSIS Indonesia, and led dozens of policy education initiatives.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from Universitas Gadjah Mada, and is pursuing a Master’s in Economics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Mohamad Ivan Riansa Government Relations Specialist & Project Management Officer
Ivan is a government relations specialist and project management officer with extensive experience in bridging the public and private sectors.
He has collaborated with key government ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Communication and Informatics (now Komdigi), the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, where he supported initiatives in regulatory compliance, strategic advocacy, and public–private coordination.
From 2018 to 2022, Ivan served in Government Relations at Human Development Universitas Indonesia, where he oversaw regulatory monitoring, institutional advocacy, and crisis management to ensure operational continuity. Since 2015, he has also acted as an independent project management consultant, supporting various national projects.
His portfolio includes directing the “Kompetisi Inovasi Peradilan Mahkamah Agung RI,” a collaboration between Universitas Indonesia and the Australia–Indonesia Partnership for Justice; leading advocacy and training programs under Kominfo’s Desa Broadband Terpadu initiative; and facilitating land-use agreements for BTS infrastructure development in underserved regions.
Ivan has also served as Project Management Officer for BAKTI Kominfo, where he supported the delivery of key performance indicators in public telecommunications services, and currently advises private sector partners in securing National Strategic Projects and Special Economic Zone initiatives with the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.
Educated at Universitas Indonesia, Ivan holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Metallurgy and Materials. During his time at UI, he was twice elected as Chair of the Student Executive Board both in the Faculty and University Level where he led programs on academic enrichment and leadership development for the student body.
Ivan is skilled in project management, regulatory impact assessment, cost–benefit analysis, and public communication.
Rangga is a strategic communications specialist with expertise in journalism, research, and crisis management, combining sharp narrative skills with policy awareness to navigate high-pressure, regulated environments.
He began his career as a journalist and market researcher at Tech in Asia, covering Southeast Asia’s tech and startup ecosystem and producing industry reports that informed investors, founders, and policymakers.
He later served as a senior researcher at Remotivi, focusing on political participation, media regulation, and public discourse. In the private sector, Rangga has advised clients across fintech, sustainability, FMCG, hospitality, digital platforms, and government, specializing in crisis communications, reputation recovery, and public affairs.
He has held leadership roles at Pola Comms and co-founded Jong Imagine, delivering campaign strategies and stakeholder engagement for both public and private institutions. An entrepreneur at heart, Rangga also co-founded Twixel Indonesia, a platform connecting corporates with creative agencies across Southeast Asia. Rangga holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universitas Brawijaya.
Egtheasavianca Bitrava Sutrisno (Avi) is a digital product and technology expert with deep experience in building, scaling, and transforming financial technology solutions across Indonesia’s leading digital platforms and finance institutions. At Northbound Strategies, he advises on product innovation, technology strategy, and digital transformation, supporting clients in navigating complex regulatory and market environments.
He previously served as Vice President and Head of Products at Hijra Alami Group, where he oversaw product strategy for peer-to-peer financing and Islamic digital banking. His work included leading core banking migration, financing origination systems, and ERP modernization, while also heading research and user experience design functions.
Earlier in his career, he spent five years at Traveloka, advancing to Lead Product Manager. There, he built and scaled Traveloka’s Affiliation and B2B Corporate products, developed data integration frameworks, and launched affiliate partnerships that strengthened the company’s regional growth.
He began his professional journey in software development and commercial banking, working at Great Eastern Life Indonesia and Imani Prima before joining Bank Syariah Mandiri. At the bank, he rose from Management Development Program trainee to Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, gaining expertise in corporate finance, client engagement, and financial risk analysis.
He holds a Master’s degree in Computational Finance from Royal Holloway, University of London, where he graduated with Distinction under a full scholarship from Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology at President University, graduating with distinction as the 2nd Best Graduate, and is an alumnus of SMA Taruna Nusantara, Magelang.
Garlan is the Research Lead where he directs research and knowledge development across public policy advocacy, international affairs. He brings more than a decade of experience spanning international development, technology platforms, and stakeholder engagement, with a strong foundation in applied research, data-driven strategy, and cross-sector collaboration.
At Northbound Strategies, Garlan leads efforts to synthesize evidence, map policy landscapes, and generate insights that inform strategy for clients navigating complex political, regulatory, and economic environments. His expertise lies in connecting rigorous research with actionable recommendations, ensuring that advocacy and communications strategies are grounded in credible data and contextual analysis.
Before joining Northbound Strategies, Garlan held leadership roles at Jobstreet, Gojek, and Shopee, where he combined operational execution with market research to drive growth and inform senior decision-making.
As Research Lead, Garlan brings to Northbound Strategies a rare combination of academic depth, practical industry insight, and international experience. He is committed to advancing the firm’s mission of building data-driven, dialogue-based advocacy for more inclusive and accountable policymaking in Indonesia and beyond.
Garlan holds a Master of Development Studies from the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Universitas Indonesia. His international exposure includes representing Indonesia at the World Schools Debating Championship (2010), receiving Best Delegate at the Asia Pacific Model UN Conference (2011), and being selected for the Total Summer School in Paris (2013)
De Rizky is a public policy and regulatory researcher with experience shaping Indonesia’s digital economy, education reform, and financial regulations. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne, specializing in governance reform and regulatory innovation, with a particular interest in the gig economy.
Previously, he served as Regulatory Strategy and Government Relations Manager at eFishery, where he directed government partnerships that positioned aquaculture as a national growth sector. He helped secure collaboration with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to establish a Tilapia fishery zone projected to generate more than Rp210 billion per cycle, and led advocacy ensuring regulatory support for the company’s expansion.
From 2019 to 2023, De Rizky was Public Policy and Government Relations Manager at GoTo, Southeast Asia’s largest technology merger. He worked closely with the Indonesia Competition Commission to obtain merger approval, reinforcing GoTo’s market capitalization of Rp149 trillion. He also partnered with the Financial Services Authority to draft IPO regulations that enabled Indonesian technology companies to go public.
Before entering the technology sector, De Rizky served at the Ministry of Education and Culture, where he developed the National Education Dashboard (NPD) to improve transparency and equity in school budgeting and access. He directly supported the Minister in designing and evaluating zoning policies for schools.
He began his career as a Junior Associate at Tarigan & Partners Law Firm, supporting corporate governance and compliance for major clients. Earlier, as a community teacher with the Indonesia Teaching Movement (Indonesia Mengajar) in Papua, he taught 62 primary school students, initiated community-led teacher recruitment, and worked with local government to establish a community library.
De Rizky earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Universitas Padjadjaran, graduating with distinction and recognition as Most Inspirational Alumni for his contributions to national moot court competitions in taxation, aviation, and anti-corruption law.
At Northbound Strategies, De Rizky works as a Public Policy and Regulatory Researcher, where he contributes analysis on governance, competition, and regulatory issues shaping Indonesia’s evolving economy.
Irwan is a Finance, Development Industry and Public Policy Expert with over a decade of experience shaping Indonesia’s digital economy, financial inclusion, and regulatory landscape. With a background in finance and policy, he has advised government institutions, multilateral organizations, and leading technology companies on strategy, governance, and advocacy.
Irwan currently also serves as a consultant to the World Bank and Cerise+SPTF, providing insights on Indonesia’s digital startup ecosystem and regulatory frameworks for financial services. He previously led public policy and government relations at PT Indonesia Digital Identity (VIDA), where he contributed to the National Integrated Digital Identity initiative and advanced cybersecurity and digital trust regulations.
He has also held leadership roles at the Asosiasi Digital Trust Indonesia (ADTI), LinkAja, and PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero), where he built partnerships with ministries, regulators, and international development partners to promote digital transformation, financial inclusion, and sustainable finance.
Earlier in his career, he supported Indonesia’s National Council for Financial Inclusion Secretariat, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) Southeast Asia, and research institutions, producing evidence-based recommendations on financial literacy, branchless banking, and regulatory reform.
Irwan earned a Master of Science in Banking and Finance with distinction from the University of Nottingham and a Bachelor of Economics from Universitas Indonesia. His work has been published in The Jakarta Post and Humanomics, and he has participated in international training programs with the Asian Development Bank Institute, the New York Institute of Finance, and J-PAL.
Rizal Gozali is an experienced long standing investment banker. As a Managing Director at Credit Suisse for 24 years, he led high profile M&A and capital market transactions across Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, providing significant value unlock to private and government related corporates and shareholders.
In 2023 he joined Jefferies Financial Group to help the firm amplify its reach across Asia’s dynamic markets. He continues to drive pan-Asian expansion, cementing bridges between global capital and emerging opportunities making decisive moves that reflect his belief in Asia’s untapped potential.
Rizal Gozali defines leadership in financial services. He brings energy, credibility, and strategic clarity to every engagement. His thinking is rooted in market insight, unwavering integrity, and a relentless drive to achieve, and exceed expectations.
As a member of Northbound Strategy’s Board of Advisors, Rizal Gozali advances the firm’s mission with clarity and force.
His leadership ensures Northbound Strategies’s comprehension and messaging is not only heard, but respected with global insight, financial discipline, and purpose-driven conviction.
Shofi Awanis is a public relations and strategic communications professional with over eight years of experience in building brand presence, strengthening institutional reputation, and driving business impact.
She previously served as Senior Lead of Corporate Affairs at GoTo Financial and as Senior Associate of Public Affairs at Gojek, both part of the GoTo Group—the largest digital ecosystem in Southeast Asia. In these roles, she led initiatives in thought leadership, stakeholder engagement, issue management, community and media relations.
Her professional background spans agencies, international development, nonprofits, and digital media. She has contributed to campaigns development of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN) – Youth, and supported Fortune 500 clients while working with the public relations firm RF|Binder in New York City.
Shofi holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Communications from Columbia University in the City of New York and a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies from Universitas Gadjah Mada. She is passionate about creating meaningful initiatives and delivering long-lasting impact through collaboration.
Thanthowy is a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia. He brings interdisciplinary expertise in strategic management, sustainable supply chains, and public policy, working at the intersection of civic empowerment, blue economy governance, and systems innovation.
His mission is to bridge academic rigour with societal relevance. Known for his systems thinking approach, he translates complex ideas into practical solutions, ranging from business cases and policy briefs to public op-eds, children’s books, and grassroots literacy programmes.
Thanthowy holds a Bachelor of Economics in Management from Universitas Indonesia, where he received the Dean’s Award for Best Graduate in Leadership, and an MBA with distinction from Institut Teknologi Bandung. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Sustainable Supply Chain Management at Universiti Sains Malaysia.
He previously served as an export analyst at Bank Indonesia, auditing compliance data for more than 70 companies and providing policy recommendations to central bank leadership.
An active writer, Thanthowy has published peer-reviewed articles, case studies, and edited volumes on higher education and sustainability. His op-eds have appeared in The Jakarta Post and The Conversation Indonesia. Recognised twice as Universitas Airlangga’s Most Creative and Innovative Teaching Method Lecturer, he has also completed executive-level programmes with J-PAL, IESE Business School, and the University of Illinois.
