Class of 2009, Development Concentration
Currently: Diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; PhD Candidate in Political Science, The Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney
Renita’s doctoral research focuses on the factors that influence Indonesia’s decision-makers to promote the country’s soft power in international affairs.
Practice-Based Experience During SGPIA: During the 2007 International Field Program in Hong Kong, Renita interned at the Asian Human Rights Commission, where she worked on issues related to human rights abuses in Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on her home country of Indonesia. Connections she established at the Asian Human Rights Commission also led to a subsequent internship with the Community Legal Aid Institute in Jakarta.
Academic Work During SGPIA: “When I look back on my experiences at GPIA, I realize how the different classes I took, such as the Human Rights Based Approach to Development with Professor Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, have truly influenced the way I assess government policies in my day-to-day job [in the government sector],” says Renita, “SGPIA classes shape the way you view human rights and development issues so that different theories can be put into practice.”
Current Work: Renita has been working as a Diplomat at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia since 2010. Her daily tasks involve drafting official statements and speeches, coordinating projects with other ministries, and assessing bilateral and multilateral cooperation involving human rights, security, and development issues.
