The Organisers

Brynna is a Director and co-founder of Australia-Indonesia Connections (AIC). In her role at AIC she is currently engaged as Program Manager for the AIMEP which she has been involved with since 2005, managing the Australia-based components of the program since 2014. Brynna is passionate about Indonesia, and about connecting like-minded individuals and communities across the globe. She has worked as a researcher at La Trobe University on two Australian Research Council projects relating to international refugees in Indonesia and Australia. She has experience in Indonesian language consultancy for Victorian curriculum development and as a Project Officer with Asialink. Brynna holds a Master of International Development from La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Arts (Indonesian and Linguistics) from the University of Melbourne. Brynna speaks Indonesian fluently, and has worked, studied and lived in Southeast Asia, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Rowan is a Director and co-founder of Australia-Indonesia Connections. Rowan has been involved in the AIMEP since its inception in 2002, and managed the program from 2007–09 and from 2014 onwards. Rowan specialises in educational exchange, capability development, and building understanding among diverse communities. Rowan was educated in Indonesia and Australia and has over fourteen years’ experience as an active member of the Muslim community in Australia. He is a former board member and CEO of the Islamic Council of Victoria. Rowan researches and teaches in the Department of Arabic & Islamic Studies at the University of Melbourne. He holds a Master of Islamic Studies, and a Bachelor of Commerce/Laws (with Honours) from the University of Melbourne. Rowan was born in Indonesia and speaks Indonesian and Arabic.