2026 Southeast Asia Oration

Held annually, the Southeast Asia Oration invites a leading voice to discuss the evolving face of politics, society and the economy in our region. The 2026 Southeast Asia Oration is hosted by Asialink and the Asia Institute at the University of Melbourne, with support from the ASEAN-Australia Centre.

This year's speaker is Professor Sri Mulyani Indrawati, one of Indonesia's longest-serving Ministers of Finance. Her oration, Governing for Growth: Democracy and Development in Southeast Asian Countries, will explore how Southeast Asian nations are balancing economic growth with democratic governance.
 

Professor Sri Mulyani Indrawati is one of Indonesia's longest-serving Ministers of Finance and the first woman to hold the role. She served under three different presidents, guiding Indonesia through three major economic crises: the Asian Financial Crisis, the Global Financial Crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

She transformed how Indonesia manages public money, digitising the country's tax and treasury systems and cracking down on corruption across a workforce of more than 80,000 people. She also launched some major financial firsts for Indonesia, including its sovereign wealth fund and issuing the world’s first sovereign Green Sukuk from an emerging economy.

Beyond Indonesia, she's held top roles at the World Bank and the IMF, and currently sits on the Board of the Gates Foundation. She's been named the world's Best Minister at World Government Summit in 2018 and the Euromoney's Finance Minister of the Year in 2006, and is a Blavatnik World Leaders Fellow for 2025–26.

Places are limited. Register today to secure your place at the 2026 Southeast Asia Oration.

The 2026 Southeast Asia Oration is delivered by Asialink and the Asia Institute at the University of Melbourne through the support of the ASEAN-Australia Centre.