Hendra Yusran Siry: A Journey from Marine Science to International Diplomacy and Marine Conservation

It never crossed Hendra Yusran Siry’s mind that Marine Science would become the foundation of his career. In 1991, he began studying Marine Science at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Universitas Riau. More than three decades later, his journey has taken him from marine research to international diplomacy, multilateral leadership and marine conservation.

Today, Hendra serves as the Senior Adviser to the Minister on Ecology and Marine Resources Affairs at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF).

‘I describe my life’s journey as getting lost on the right path,’ Hendra said.

His path was shaped early by his mother, a junior high school teacher who encouraged him to become a civil servant before pursuing opportunities abroad.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Hendra pursued a Masters of Environmental Science at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand in 2000. He later continued to a PhD in Resource Management and Environmental Sciences, specialising in Coastal Zone Management, at The Australian National University (ANU) and was supported by the Australian Development Scholarship.

‘At that time, I felt that pursuing a PhD was essential for improving my analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as expanding my network to advance my career at MMAF,’ he explained.

Learning to Question and Communicate

At ANU, Hendra found an academic environment that challenged him to think independently and communicate his ideas clearly. His supervisor, Professor James J. Fox, played an important role in shaping this approach.

‘Prof. James often asked, ‘So what?’ He encouraged me to be sceptical and continually question what might come next from the sentences I wrote,’ Hendra recalled.

The experience taught Hendra an important lesson that would later prove valuable in policy and diplomacy: good ideas must be supported by clear reasoning and communicated in a way that others can understand.

He also organised seminars to discuss his research, building confidence in presenting arguments, responding to questions and communicating in a foreign language.

Professor Fox’s influence extended beyond academic supervision. In 2005, he helped Hendra secure funding to present his research in the United States. A year later, Hendra participated in the Nippon Foundation Fellowship Program at the United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) in New York.

The fellowship allowed Hendra to deepen his research while gaining first-hand exposure to international institutions.

For Hendra, these experiences demonstrated the importance of resilience, adaptability and building relationships with people who can open new possibilities.

From Marine Science to International Diplomacy

Only two weeks after returning to Indonesia with his PhD, he was asked to represent the MMAF as part of the Indonesian delegation to the 2009 Bonn Climate Change Conference under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He served as one of Indonesia’s lead negotiators on the ocean dimension of climate change.

‘I wasn’t familiar with climate change because I didn’t study it in depth during my time at university; I only had a basic understanding,’ he explained.

Yet instead of seeing this as a limitation, Hendra drew on a mindset developed during his studies in Australia: the willingness to learn, ask questions and engage with unfamiliar subjects.

’I’m grateful that the egalitarian tradition I experienced during my studies in Australia has made me humbler, more inclined to listen and capable of offering constructive feedback,’ said Hendra.

For Hendra, diplomacy is not simply about delivering a message. It is about understanding different perspectives, building trust and finding common ground, skills that have remained central to his work.

In 2015, he demonstrated how relationship-building could be combined with strategic thinking when he helped prepare Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti’s visit to Australia.

He included the Sydney Fish Market in the itinerary and subsequently prepared a report outlining how Indonesia could develop a modern fish market based on lessons from Australia. The concept later contributed to the development of the Muara Baru Modern Fish Market in North Jakarta.

Leading a Multilateral Partnership

Hendra’s experience in diplomacy and international cooperation eventually led to a regional leadership role.

In October 2018, he was appointed Interim Executive Director of the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF) Regional Secretariat, a multilateral partnership involving Indonesia, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

His 13-month mandate focused on maintaining Indonesia’s leadership while strengthening transparency, accountability, staffing and financial governance.

‘I always tried to assure member countries that none of their contributions were wasted,they all had an impact,’ he added.

His leadership also focused on creating a more inclusive working environment at the Secretariat in Manado, encouraging staff and colleagues to contribute ideas and work collaboratively.

The experience strengthened his belief that effective leadership requires both accountability and the ability to bring people together around a shared objective.

Safeguarding Marine Biodiversity

Hendra’s career has increasingly returned to the issue that first brought him into the field: marine resources and biodiversity.

In April 2023, he was appointed Director of the Marine Research Centre and also served as Acting Senior Adviser to the Minister for Economic, Social and Cultural Affairs.

One issue he pursued was the establishment of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA), a designation under the International Maritime Organisation designed to protect marine areas of ecological, socio-economic or scientific significance from the impacts of international maritime activities.

Between 2023 and 2024, Hendra prepared two studies advocating the establishment of a PSSA in the Lombok Strait. Drawing on international examples, including the Philippines’ Tubbataha Reef, his analysis examined the area's ecological importance as well as its potential economic, social and cultural benefits.

His efforts contributed to a broader policy discussion around protecting sensitive marine ecosystems. In October 2024, the IMO officially designated Nusa Penida and Gili Matra as PSSAs.

Giving Back Through Knowledge and Service

Looking back, Hendra sees his career as a series of unexpected opportunities connected by a consistent willingness to learn.

From marine science and academic research to diplomacy, multilateral leadership and policy advice, each experience has added a new dimension to his professional capabilities.

‘As a Senior Adviser, we are required to provide support for the decision-making process; we focus more on providing understanding and contributing our thoughts. Therefore, it’s essential for us to present our information effectively, ensuring it is pithy,’ Hendra emphasised.

His own education has been supported by scholarships at almost every stage, from the Supersemar Scholarship during his undergraduate years to the Ford Foundation Individual Grant for his Masters degree and ultimately the Australian Development Scholarship for his PhD at ANU.

‘I feel that all my life has been greatly supported by others, and now I want to give back by contributing to the nation, the community and society as a whole,’ Hendra said.

For someone who describes his journey as ‘getting lost on the right path’, perhaps the destination was never the point. What matters is the continuous process of learning, building relationships, adapting to new challenges and using knowledge to create a broader impact.