Ariella Hana Sinjaya: A Woman Leader Forging an Inclusive Society
Dr Ariella Hana Sinjaya believes the way to an inclusive society must go beyond tolerance for diversity. Her work is all about reaching out and embracing different groups.
Ariella had already been engaged in community service for many years, including humanitarian relief efforts in response to the tsunami disaster, support for communities affected by major floods in Sinjai, and the initiation of the ‘Proyek Perpustakaan Pintar’ (Smart Library Project) for agricultural extension workers in Soppeng with the support of Crossroads International, an organisation founded by an Australian family and based in Hong Kong.
In 2014, she formally established the Anak Bangsa Berakhlak Mulia (Virtuous Children of the Nation) Foundation, giving legal structure to her work in supporting children in need following many years of community service . After participating in an Australia Awards Short Course in 2019, she expanded the foundation’s work to support more women.
Ariella said the Leadership for Senior Multi-faith Women Leaders Short Course helped her find new possibilities for women’s leadership and a new understanding of how women can work together.
‘My education in Australia through the Australia Awards Short Course was an important catalyst that strengthened my foundation as a female leader,’ said Ariella, the Australian Alumni Awards – South Sulawesi winner for the Community Impact Award, presented by the Australian Consulate-General in Makassar on 24 January 2026.
‘I returned home with greater determination to speak up and lead as a Christian woman leader of Chinese Indonesian heritage without feeling awkward, both within my own community and across faiths and ethnicities.’
Uniting on Female Leadership
The Short Course in Australia broadened both Ariella’s skills and her mindset on women’s leadership.
‘Personally, the program provided me with mental “ammunition” as a female leader,’ said Ariella, who has a doctorate in Transformational Leadership from Regent University in the United States.
‘Hearing the experiences of experts in Australia regarding the struggle of female leadership there made me even more determined to stay focused on developing my potential and the foundation, as well as my service in various areas, without being hindered by the obstacles of patriarchal culture or pressure from the surrounding environment.’
Through her Short Course’s Award project, she was also able to put into practice measurable work methodologies.
‘I learned the importance of conducting an in-depth needs analysis before launching an empowerment program. Field conditions are quite dynamic, so this data-driven approach has become a new standard for me in formulating initiatives at the foundation.’
Supporting the Community in Crisis
The skills Ariella developed from the Short Course put her in a unique position to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the beginning of the pandemic, Ariella initiated and designed portable handwashing units with large water tanks, mobilising community support to build and install them at 25 locations in Makassar. she also collaborated with the government, the Indonesian National Armed Forces and the Indonesian National Police to distribute personal protective equipment to remote areas in Eastern Indonesia.
When it came time for vaccinations, she stepped up to design programs that were fair, safe and organised. she designed programs that were fair, safe and well organised, working in collaboration with the Regional State Intelligence Agency (BINDA), the Financial Services Authority (OJK), and the Indonesian National Police, together with partners from the private sector and the community, including the support of a shopping mall in Makassar that provided its venue for nearly two years.
‘I applied the professionalism I learned in Australia to create a neat and inclusive system. As a result, there was no mass gathering, even though thousands of people attended, because the registration and distribution process was measured and structured,’ said Ariella.
She also introduced several creative ideas to encourage vaccination. Among them was the ‘Red and White Vaccination’, a mass vaccination drive where staff wore the national colours, a drive-through vaccination to support older people to feel safer and more comfortable,‘vaccination tourism’ where hotels in Makassar hosted vaccinations in relaxing surroundings and themed days to encourage more children and older people to participate.
Interfaith Collaboration in Action
As a nation rich in cultural values and bound by the principle of unity in diversity, Indonesia often still feels the pull of strong tribalism. While studying in Australia, Ariella realised that diversity was a tremendous asset, not an obstacle.
‘In Australia, I witnessed how an inclusive system can provide equal opportunities for every individual regardless of their background. This experience strengthened my conviction to continue bringing this spirit to Indonesia,’ she said.
She believes that cross-cultural and interfaith collaboration is not merely a discourse but a strong foundation for mutual prosperity.
‘I learned that the key to true inclusion is not merely passive tolerance, but human relationships built through empathy and concrete actions in appreciating differences.’
For Ariella, inclusivity must touch on the most essential aspects of human dignity. Therefore, all of her foundation’s activities are based on the principle of mutual cooperation.
Reaching out to Marginalised Groups
During her journey, Ariella has developed a number of programs for marginalised communities that frequently encounter obstacles to accessing education and legal services.
Through the foundation, Ariella first developed a character formation program for underprivileged children, focusing on nurturing integrity, empathy and responsibility. The program aims to help children grow into individuals with strong moral values who can contribute positively to society.
One example of this initiative was the establishment of a digital library in a leprosy village, carried out in collaboration with two foundations in Jakarta, namely The One and Rumah Baca Indonesia. She also worked with the Independent Leprosy Association (Permata) and recruited interns and local youth to serve as mentors.
‘They facilitated the provision of computers and servers, while I was responsible for providing the space and guidance to the children,’ explained Ariella.
‘I decided to place the digital library in the leprosy village because I saw the stigma experienced by many children living there.’
Another initiative to support children facing exclusion was the ‘Interfaith Mass Wedding’ in collaboration with the Peduli Kota or ‘Pelita’ community, the Social Services Agency and the Population and Civil Registry Agency. The event facilitated a wedding procession, civil registration, and the issuance of marriage certificates and birth certificates for children.
In 2023, Ariella received the Iconic Women Award 2023 at the International Women Parliament (IWP) conclave organised by Project 100, a global initiative committed to social and environmental peace. For the occasion in New Delhi, India, she delivered a keynote speech on gender equality.
Indonesia's Inclusive Future
After leading various community initiatives for decades, Ariella believes the key to inclusivity lies in the synergy among legal frameworks, digital access and measurable, strategic collaboration.
In addition to the work with her foundation, she also works to strengthen collaboration between Indonesia and Australia. She believes in optimising the diaspora as ‘living bridges’ for knowledge transfer and in addressing issues such as preventing the exploitation of migrant workers.
Being an Australia Awards alumna is a privilege that comes with a sense of moral responsibility for Ariella. She believes the capabilities strengthened through her education in Australia must be shared more broadly, through tangible contributions to society.
The network she has built has opened up excellent communication channels with the Australian Consulate General in Makassar, which provides moral support and a forum for women leaders to continue their work.
‘For me, Australia Awards alumni community is a home for “change makers,”’ Ariella said. ‘This is where we give each other positive energy to ensure that our service never stops, in order to realise a more inclusive and dignified Indonesia.’
