Media Release | Thomas Lembong awarded the inaugural Asia Society Australia-Victoria Distinguished Fellowship

MELBOURNE, 29 NOVEMBER 2017

Asia Society Australia today announced Thomas Trikasih Lembong as the inaugural recipient of the Asia Society Australia-Victoria Distinguished Fellowship. 
                                                       
Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom, is the Chairman of Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board. He previously served as Indonesian Minister of Trade, after a successful business career.

Asia Society Australia-Victoria Distinguished Fellowship is a partnership between Asia Society Australia and the Victorian Government to promote greater connectivity between Victoria and Asia, and to showcase Victoria as Australia's centre of excellence for Asia insights and capabilities. 

Tom Lembong said: “It is an honour to receive this prestigious fellowship at an important juncture in the Indonesia-Australia relationship, when both nations are committed to strengthen economic and strategic links, including through the Indonesia-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement. I look forward to visiting Melbourne and working together with our Australian partners to build new connections between Indonesia and Victoria”.

Daniel Andrews, Premier of Victoria said:
 
“Indonesia is a long-valued partner of Victoria and we have enjoyed watching the relationship strengthen over many years - this is due in no small part to the dedication of people like Tom Lembong.  This is an exciting appointment and one that will no doubt bring Victoria and Indonesia even closer.“

Philipp Ivanov, CEO of Asia Society Australia said: “Tom’s appointment as the Distinguished Fellow is significant, as Victoria intensifies its engagement with Asia and Australia prepares to host a historic ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in 2018. Tom’s leadership and ideas will also be critical for Asia Society Australia as we grow our impact as the leading business and policy centre dedicated to Asia”.

Doug Ferguson, Chairman of Asia Society of Australia said: “We at Asia Society are delighted to welcome Tom Lembong as the inaugural Distinguished Fellow. Tom has been a tireless advocate for a closer Australia-Indonesia partnership, and his unparalleled knowledge of the region will be a major asset for Asia Society, Victoria and Australia”.

Asia Society Australia-Victoria Distinguished Fellowship is a part of the major partnership between the Victorian Government and Asia Society to promote engagement with Asia in the areas of policy, business, education and culture. The partnership was announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Asia Society President Josette Sheeran in May 2016.

Under the partnership, Melbourne has also been chosen as the host city for the 2017 Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit, a pre-eminent forum of the region's emerging leaders.

BIOGRAPHY

Thomas Trikasih Lembong, also known as Tom, is the Chairman of Indonesia Investment Coordinating Board. He was the Indonesian Minister of Trade from August 2015 to July 2016. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Lembong served as Managing Partner and CEO of Quvat Management, a Singapore-based private equity fund with investments in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Founded in 2006, Quvat manages funds for several leading American universities endowments as well as Asian and Middle-Eastern sovereign wealth funds.  Prior to co-founding Quvat, Mr. Lembong had extensive experience from the financial sector, working amongst others for Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley. From 2000-2002, Mr. Lembong was also a Senior Official at the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), a government - led economic program set up to restructure Indonesia's banks and private sector non-performing loans following the 1997/98 Asian Financial Crisis.  Mr. Lembong holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from Harvard University. Mr. Lembong was named a Young Global Leader (YGL) by The World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos in 2008.

Media Enquiries:
Philipp Ivanov
CEO, Asia Society Australia
(02) 8199 9402
programaustralia@asiasociety.org