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Simon McKenna
- How did you come to be living and working in Indonesia?
As part of PwC’s alignment into three global clusters, opportunities were offered encouraging Australian staff to work in Asia and broaden their experience and networks in the Eastern cluster. Indonesia was presented to me as a good opportunity to work in an emerging economy whilst maintaining close ties to the Australian firm, particularly in the Energy and Mining industry.
- What are some of your daily work activities?
I predominantly work in the Taxation Service division of the Energy, Utilities and Mining industry group. I also work with a small team that provides advice on Timor-Leste and more recently have been assisting in growing our new Sustainability and Climate Change team. So, the daily activities can be widely varied but the focus is on taxation and investment advisory services to multi-national investors into both Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
- In your role, what are the highlights of working with different cultures?
The cultural highlight for me has been working with a diverse range of people that do not represent the often well publicised and misguided mistrust between Australian and Indonesian cultures. Indonesia is an incredibly diverse country with the overwhelming majority of people being extremely friendly, humorous and hospitable.
- How do you manage the differences in cultural issues?
I think the best method is to not take things too seriously. Understand that the Australian way of life is not the only; don’t be ignorant of other people’s backgrounds, values, religions. In many ways we share the same common goals, it’s often how they’re communicated that creates cultural barriers.
- What do you enjoy most about living in Indonesia?
First and foremost - the opportunities for travel in the region, so many fantastic destinations in South East Asia are on my doorstep. It’s also amazing how quickly you adapt to the hustle and bustle of a big Asian city – the pace, the smell, crowds. There is never a dull moment and there is always a point in your day where you see something beyond imagination.
- Looking forward, how can Australia make a stronger contribution towards building positive relations with Asia?
Whilst Australia may be geographically part of Asia, the region is an extremely diverse group of countries. The issues particular to Singapore are vastly different to an emerging Indonesia or a new nation such as Timor-Leste. There is an extremely rich history unique to each country that we cannot simply have the same approach to all nations in the region. I believe an understanding of these differences in background, culture and religion and an empathy with the current political and social circumstances peculiar to each country is important to Australia’s success in the region, particularly beyond the current mining boom.
