Sadli Lecture
The ANU Indonesia Project, in collaboration with the Institute of Economic and Social Research (LPEM) of the Faculty of Business and Economics Universitas Indonesia, holds an annual lecture series entitled “The Sadli Lecture Series in Economic Policy”. It is named in honour of the late Professor Mohammad Sadli, who was arguably Indonesia’s most influential policy analyst on economic affairs over the past 50 years. The lecture series aims to broaden understanding and stimulate debate among students, academics, and policymakers about Indonesia's key economic policy challenges, drawing on neighbouring countries' experiences. Each year, a commissioned paper on Indonesia in comparative economic perspectives is published in the August edition of the Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies.
About the late Professor Sadli
The late Professor Dr Ir Mohammad Sadli was a senior economist who played an important role in Indonesian economic development, especially in the New Order era. Sadli’s involvement in government began as a member of President Soeharto’s economic advisory team. During the New Order era, Mohammad Sadli was appointed as Minister of Labor in Cabinet Development I (1971-1973), Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Investment (PMA), and served as Minister of Mining in Cabinet Development II (1973-1978). Professor Sadli was a well-known economist with a background in engineering science. He received his PhD in Economics from Universitas Indonesia. Professor Sadli also received the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Universitas Indonesia Lifetime Achievement Award for Economist Profession. After retiring, he was often consulted by the government and other private institutions to provide analysis on Indonesia’s economic development. In 1984, he was appointed as a member of the United Nation Development Planning Committee. He was also a prolific writer, publishing many articles in numerous newspapers and magazines such as Kompas, Sinar Harapan, and Tempo. Professor Dr Mohammad Sadli died at the age of 85 years in January 2008.
2025 Sadli Lecture
Gender, Colonial Legacies and Climate Change at the 2025 Sadli Lecture
The 2025 Sadli Lecture, delivered at the Novotel Ciniki, Jakarta by Professor Ann R. Tickamyer, shone a spotlight on the deep connections between colonial legacies, gender relations, and Indonesia’s vulnerability to climate change.
In her lecture, titled Colonial Legacies and Postcolonial Agendas: How Does the Indonesian Gender Order Move into a Postcolonial Future to Address Climate Change?, Tickamyer argued that colonial structures have left enduring imprints on both gender norms and environmental governance. These legacies, she suggested, limit women’s access to resources and decision-making, exacerbating the unequal burdens they face during climate-related disasters.
Tickamyer introduced the concept of a riskscape—a framework that examines how spatial, temporal, and social factors shape experiences of risk, recovery, and resilience. Drawing on case studies from Aceh, Bantul, and Mount Merapi, she highlighted how social capital and gender inclusion play vital roles in disaster recovery. “Resilience cannot simply mean rebuilding what existed before,” Tickamyer noted. “Transformative resilience requires rethinking institutions, policies, and social norms to make them more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable.”
The lecture emphasised the need for gender-sensitive policies that go beyond token inclusion, recognising the diverse realities of Indonesian women across regions. It also called for re-evaluating extractive economic models that continue to drive ecological damage, disproportionately affecting marginalised groups.
See our online archive for information on and recordings of former Sadli Lectures.
