Budi Santoso and His Dedication to Anti-Corruption Efforts
Budi Santoso's journey to success began with significant hurdles. Growing up in a modest household, financial constraints were a constant challenge. The situation worsened when his father passed away. Determined to continue his education, Budi took on various jobs including selling books, dolls, and lipstick, and working as a labourer. His dedication paid off as he managed to graduate from high school and pursue a degree in accounting at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), Solo.
Australian education experience and subsequent career journey
In 2005, Budi joined the Corruption Eradication Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (KPK) as an investigator. He applied for the Australia Awards Scholarship and earned a Masters in Forensic Accounting from the University of Wollongong in 2009.
After returning to Indonesia, Budi continued his role at KPK. He was appointed as the Head of the Prevention Secretariat at the age of 30. After pursuing another Master, this time at the University of Hong Kong on Corruption Studies, he was promoted to Head of the Commissioners Office in 2014.
He faced a major setback when his mother suffered a serious accident requiring expensive surgery. In 2015, to cover the medical costs, Budi resigned from KPK and use his pension to pay for the surgery.
Budi worked in several consulting companies including PT. Ernst and Young Indonesia (EY) in Jakarta and Kroll in Singapore. In 2020, Budi returned to Indonesia as Director of Forensics Services and head of the Financial Crime Unit in Southeast Asia at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). His role involves providing anti-financial crime services, building transparency programs, and consulting for government and private institutions in Indonesia and internationally.
Budi's commitment to fighting corruption continues. He is actively involved in various professional associations, including the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the Dewan Sertifikasi Qualified Internal Auditor (DSQIA). In 2024, as Vice President of the ACFE Indonesia Chapter, he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chief Member Officer of CPA Australia. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in advancing transparency, accountability, and integrity within the financial sector. With CPA Australia's global network of over 170,000 members and ACFE's community of over 90,000 anti-fraud professionals, the partnership opens doors to joint training programs, workshops, and research initiatives.
Continuing education and fostering collaboration
In 2023, Budi enrolled in the Australia Awards Short Course in Promoting Transparency and Accountability in the Public Sector at Griffith University.
"One key contact was with several professors at Griffith University who specialise in public sector reform.., they introduced me to several Australia-based NGOs focused on transparency, including Transparency International Australia."
In early 2024, a joint initiative was launched, aimed at enhancing whistleblower protection mechanisms within Indonesian public institutions. This project leveraged Australian expertise in legal frameworks for protecting whistleblowers and also provided a platform for exchanging best practices.
Achievements and future plans
Budi's ambition to serve his country remains strong. He has applied for leadership positions in several public institutions, including the Financial Services Authority (OJK) and the Audit Board of Indonesia (BPK) between 2022 and 2024. He applied also for the head of the BPK and was shortlisted as one of the top 12 candidates. He presented an essay about nine programs planned for the DPR’s fit and proper test. Three of the nine programs were specifically inspired during his Short Course study.
Budi emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, integrity, and a commitment to making a positive impact. He believes that education is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about developing the values and skills needed to contribute to society.