Putri Rafika Dewi: Translating Sustainability Knowledge into Climate Solutions

For Putri Rafika Dewi, sustainability is not simply a reporting requirement or corporate trend. It is a practical framework for improving accountability, strengthening governance and supporting Indonesia’s transition towards a low-carbon future.

Today, Putri serves as Subdivision Head of Sustainable Finance and Climate Solutions at PT SUCOFINDO, Indonesia’s state-owned inspection, testing and verification services. In this role, she supports organisations in responding to evolving climate regulations, greenhouse gas reporting requirements and sustainable finance standards.

Her work sits at the intersection of climate governance, corporate accountability and sustainability finance, an increasingly important field supporting Indonesia’s climate transition and broader development agenda.

As Indonesia strengthens climate disclosure systems and prepares for mandatory reporting requirements, Putri’s work contributes to the systems and governance needed to support climate action. This reflects a cross-cutting approach, helping organisations improve transparency, strengthen climate reporting and align with Indonesia’s sustainability priorities.

Building a Practical Understanding of Sustainability

Putri’s interest in sustainability emerged early in her career through consulting roles across industries, including mining and government-related projects.

These experiences gave her broad exposure but also revealed an important challenge.

‘At that time, sustainability was discussed a lot but not always understood practically. I wanted to learn how it could be applied properly within organisations,’ she said.

Motivated to understand how sustainability could be embedded more strategically within organisations, she began exploring postgraduate programs that combined environmental knowledge with business applications.

She found that alignment at Monash University and pursued her studies there through an Australia for ASEAN Scholarship, enrolling in the Masters of Environment and Sustainability with a specialisation in Corporate Environment and Sustainability Management in 2023.

The program appealed to her because of its strong emphasis on applied learning and real-world sustainability challenges.

Learning Sustainability Through Critical Inquiry and Applied Practice

Studying in Australia exposed Putri to a learning environment centred on critical thinking, evidence-based analysis and practical problem-solving.

‘Most of our assessments were essays, reports and presentations. There were no traditional exams. We were expected to analyse real cases and support our arguments with research,’ she said.

This approach strengthened her ability to assess sustainability frameworks, interpret information critically and translate concepts into practical recommendations.

One of the most influential experiences was her capstone consulting project, where she worked with a multidisciplinary team to develop an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) framework for a battery energy storage company.

The project required the team to assess environmental and governance risks, identify material issues and adapt international sustainability principles into an emerging industry where standards were still evolving.

‘That project helped me understand how sustainability frameworks are built from the ground up, especially for industries that do not yet have clear standards,’ she explained.

The project also introduced her to international climate disclosure standards based on International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which were still relatively new at the time.

Growing Through Diversity and Regional Leadership

Putri describes her experience in Australia as equally transformative outside the classroom.

Studying alongside peers from different cultural and professional backgrounds broadened her understanding of sustainability challenges across countries and sectors.

‘The environment felt very safe. Everyone was encouraged to speak, and lecturers took time to engage with all questions,’ she said.

This inclusive culture encouraged her confidence in communicating ideas, engaging in discussion and working across cultures.

As an ASEAN scholar, she also joined the ASEAN Emerging Leaders program, participating in leadership activities, regional discussions and exchanges with scholars from across Southeast Asia.

‘It exposed me to leadership perspectives beyond sustainability and helped me understand regional challenges from different national contexts,’ she explained.

The experience reinforced the importance of relationship-building, intercultural understanding and collective leadership in addressing complex development issues.

Supporting Indonesia’s Climate Transition

Putri returned to Indonesia in 2024 and resumed her career at PT SUCOFINDO at a time when climate reporting requirements, emissions-reduction policies and sustainable finance initiatives were rapidly evolving.

Shortly after her return, she was appointed Subdivision Head of Sustainable Finance and Climate Solutions. 

The transition marked an important shift in her career from broad consulting assignments to a specialised role directly aligned with her studies.

‘After studying, my work became more directed. I moved into a role that aligns closely with what I studied, and that has also meant taking on a higher level of responsibility,’ she said.

Today, Putri leads work supporting greenhouse gas validation and verification, climate disclosure and assessments of sustainable financial instruments, including green bonds and green equity.Her role helps organisations strengthen transparency and accountability while preparing to change regulatory expectations.

One of her key responsibilities involves supporting companies, including those in the mining and energy sectors, to prepare climate-related disclosures.

These disclosures are becoming increasingly important as Indonesia moves towards mandatory climate reporting requirements expected to apply to financial institutions, listed companies and large corporations.

Working with clients, Putri and her team help interpret international disclosure frameworks while adapting them to Indonesian regulation. The process involves reviewing emissions data, governance systems, risk management approaches and transition strategies.

‘The framework I studied in Australia is the same framework we are now applying in practice. What differs is the regulatory context, not the structure,’ she explained.

Her work contributes to strengthening corporate climate governance systems and supporting Indonesia’s broader climate transition efforts, including national emission reduction ambitions under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

In addition to climate reporting, Putri is involved in pilot initiatives related to sustainable finance, particularly green equity assessment using Indonesia’s Sustainable Finance Taxonomy.

Sustaining Impact Through Collaboration and Continuous Learning

As sustainability regulations continue to evolve, Putri remains actively involved in professional networks and knowledge-sharing initiatives.

In 2025, she initiated an internal Sustainable Finance training programme at PT SUCOFINDO in collaboration with the Indonesian Institute of Accountants (IAI) to strengthen staff understanding of sustainable finance and emerging regulations.

She also participated in discussions under the ‘Enabling Just Transition in Indonesia’ initiative, organised by the Ministry of Finance, the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC), and the Indonesia Research Institute for Decarbonisation (IRID). These forums brought together stakeholders from different sectors to discuss Indonesia’s transition to a low-carbon economy.

For Putri, these engagements are essential because sustainability challenges require cooperation across disciplines and institutions.

‘This field is evolving very quickly and requires continuous exchange across sectors,’ she added.

Looking ahead, she plans to pursue further professional certifications in climate and sustainable finance while remaining open to contributing through training, guest lectures and future study.

‘Sustainability is a field that keeps evolving, so continuous learning and collaboration are essential. Studying in Australia gave me the foundation and confidence to apply sustainability in a practical way and to keep contributing,’ Putri reflected.