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Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former president of the Republic of Indonesia, will soon be welcomed as a visiting Professor at The University of Western Australia and as a Senior Fellow with the Perth USAsia Centre, expanding opportunities for deeper regional understanding and cooperation.

Dr Yudhoyono has also been announced as the keynote speaker at the University's annual In the Zone Leaders forum on 1 May.

Dr Yudhoyono was the Republic of Indonesia's sixth president and the country's first directly elected president ­- entering office in 2004 and serving two consecutive five-year terms.  He left office in October 2014.

Professor Gordon Flake, CEO of the Perth USAsia Centre said the centre was greatly honoured to have a leader of Dr Yudhoyono's stature and vision as a guest at the Perth USAsia Centre.

"As the President of one of the world's largest democracies and a leading nation in the Indo-Pacific, Dr Yudhoyono helped set the agenda and advance regional cooperation of important issues in Indonesia, Australia, and the broader region," he said.

"We look forward to working closely with Dr Yudhoyono to continue to strengthen ties and deepen understanding and cooperation in the region."

The Perth USAsia Centre plans to expand its focus on Indonesia in 2015, featuring programming that highlights the importance of Australia-Indonesia relations and identifies areas for cooperation and enhanced diplomacy.

UWA Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Johnson, said UWA was pleased to have Dr Yudhoyono as an affiliate in Perth to advance shared interests in the emerging Indo-Pacific region.

"The University will award Dr Yudhoyono an honorary degree adding to his many fine academic accomplishments," Professor Johnson said.

Dr Yudhoyono has a Master's Degree in Management from Webster University in the United States, a Doctorate Degree in Agricultural Economics from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture.  He also attended the US Army Command and General Staff College.

The recipient of many international awards, Dr Yudhoyono was named by the United Nations as a "Global Champion for Disaster Risk Reduction" in 2011 for his efforts to make disaster risk reduction a national priority after the Boxing Day tsunami hit Indonesia in 2004.  In 2010, Dr Yudhoyono became the fifth visiting head of state to address both houses of Australian Parliament.

Since leaving office, Dr Yudhoyono has also accepted the presidency of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) based in Seoul, South Korea.

Media references

Sonia Nolan (Media Manager, Perth USAsia Centre & In the Zone ‘15)  (+61 4) 01 034 103
David Stacey (UWA Media and Public Relations Manager)  (+61 8) 6488 3229 / (+61 4) 32 637 716