A circular graphic featuring evenly spaced vertical bars around an empty center.

Our Team

Meet the visionary leaders driving Karsa City Lab’s mission to elevate Indonesian cities on the global stage.

Board of Braintrust

  1. An urban thought leader combining technocratic expertise and global insight, consistently advocating for resilient, inclusive, and knowledge-driven cities. 

    With over 30 years of experience in infrastructure, spatial planning, and regional development, he served as Vice President at the Asian Development Bank and was appointed as the inaugural Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority, as well as the President’s Special Envoy for its global partnerships. A PhD graduate from UC Berkeley, he advises institutions like UCLG ASPAC, Bloomberg New Economy Council, and Tech for Good Institute.

  2. A public intellectual and anthropologist whose lifelong work bridges social science, cultural integrity, and gender equality, advocating for inclusive, humane, and justice-oriented development.

    With academic roots grounded at Universitas Indonesia, where she earned her doctorate and was appointed Professor of Anthropology, she has contributed over four decades to scholarship, education, and public service. She served as State Minister for Women’s Empowerment (2004–2009) in the “Kabinet Indonesia Bersatu”, where she championed the landmark Domestic Violence Eradication Law. Her activism extends through leadership at the Hatta Foundation and continued advocacy for embedding gender equity and cultural consciousness into national policy.

  3. A senior executive with an extensive background in asset management and corporate leadership, known for advancing transparency and high-performance governance in the public sector.

    With over two decades of experience across strategic roles: From Partner at PwC Indonesia to Director of HR and Asset Management at Pertamina, he later served as President Director of PT Jakarta Propertindo (2018–2021). Under his leadership, Jakpro managed key urban infrastructure projects such as the Jakarta International Stadium, Taman Ismail Marzuki, and Formula E circuit. He has also held commissioner roles in several Jakarta-owned enterprises focused on infrastructure and public services. A graduate of Sekolah Tinggi Akuntansi Negara (STAN) and the University of Indonesia, he brings financial expertise and governance insight crucial to shaping accountable and future-ready cities.

  4. An architect and urban planner whose work bridges science, culture, and spatial advocacy, championing equitable, sustainable, and citizen-driven urban futures.

    With over two decades of experience in planning, policy, and urban development, he founded the Rujak Center for Urban Studies, an independent think tank dedicated to spatial justice and ecological transition in cities. He led the revitalization of Jakarta’s Kota Tua heritage district (2014–2015), served on the National Research Council, and is a prolific writer of essays and books on architecture, cities, and society. A graduate of Universitas Indonesia and KU Leuven, he actively contributes to both national and international forums on urbanism and sustainability.

  5. A transport professional dedicated to advancing sustainable mobility in cities worldwide, with over two decades of experience in urban transport across 10 countries. 

    He previously led Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) Southeast Asia and served as Director of Engineering and later Director of Operations & Safety at Transjakarta, helping reshape the largest BRT system in Southeast Asia. He now leads business development at Kalista (Indika Energy Group), focusing on accelerating Indonesia’s EV ecosystem. He also serves as Secretary General of MTI and ITS Indonesia. A graduate of ITB and the University of Leeds, he is recognized for shaping user-centered, integrated public transport and policy design in emerging cities.

  6. An urban landscape professional who weaves expertise in open space and environmental issues to realize greener, more inclusive, and sustainable cities.

    With over three decades of service since joining the Jakarta Provincial Government, she served as Head of the Parks and Urban Forest Agency, where she championed community-based participatory green spaces and the preservation of urban ecological infrastructure. A graduate in Landscape Architecture from Trisakti University, Public Administration from the National Institute of Public Administration (LAN), and Urban Development from the University of Indonesia’s Faculty of Economics, she has played a key role in shaping adaptive green space strategies and responsive urban governance in Jakarta.

  7. An architect and urban designer with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Trisakti University. He served as a Senior Advisor in the Jakarta Governor’s Delivery Unit (TGUPP) from 2017 to 2022.

    He played a key role in reshaping several strategic urban areas in Jakarta, including Tanah Abang, Gondangdia, CSW Kebayoran, Medan Merdeka, and Kota Tua. Known for integrating public transportation access with spatial planning, he is a central figure in advancing Jakarta’s transformation toward more connected, inclusive, and sustainable urban districts.

  8. A sociologist of technology bridging science, risk, and public policy with critical insights into cities, disasters, and digital infrastructure across Southeast Asia.

    Currently an Associate Professor at Nanyang Technological University Singapore, he is widely recognized for advancing sociotechnical perspectives on urban resilience and risk governance. His work spans scholarly books, documentaries, and collaborative research on climate change, smart cities, and digital inequality—particularly in Jakarta. He holds a PhD from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, with earlier degrees from Arizona State University and Institut Teknologi Bandung. His approach blends analytical depth with social critique to address the complex challenges of future urban life.

  9. An economist and urban policy advisor with a strategic approach to aligning infrastructure development and fiscal governance in pursuit of inclusive and competitive cities.

    He has served in academia as Vice Rector of Paramadina University and Co-Founder of the Paramadina Public Policy Institute. His public service includes roles as Senior Economic Advisor to the Governor of Jakarta (2019–2022) and Special Staff to the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for Economic and Financial Affairs (2014–2019). He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Universitas Gadjah Mada and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy.

  10. A seasoned urban infrastructure practitioner with deep expertise in public space governance, water resource management, and roadway systems in Jakarta—guided by a commitment to accessibility and inclusive urban design.

    Having served as Head of the Jakarta Water Resources Agency (Sumber Daya Air) and previously as Head of the Highways Agency (Bina Marga), he is recognized for championing the development and maintenance of resilient infrastructure, including roadways, sidewalks, bike lanes, and urban drainage systems to address flooding. His vision has shaped Jakarta’s approach to sidewalk modernization as a key component of urban mobility, as well as the city’s evolving flood mitigation strategy.

  11. A driving force in urban infrastructure management with a strategic and integrative approach, specializing in resource efficiency and the development of connected mobility and urban systems.

    Holding a Master’s in Engineering from Universitas Tarumanagara, he has held key leadership roles including President Director of PT MRT Jakarta (2022), President Commissioner of PT LRT Jakarta (2021–2022), and Director of Engineering & Business Development at PT Jakarta Propertindo (2021–2022). His earlier career spans major state-owned enterprises, where he managed national-scale construction and property projects. With expertise in project management and investment development, he plays a vital role in strengthening public transport systems, regional connectivity, and the transformation of Indonesia’s urban landscape.

Board of Trustees & Supervisors

  1. Dedicated to serving the community and contributing to Indonesia’s development, with a focus on promoting good governance, democracy, and anti-corruption.

    Anies holds a Ph.D in Public Policy from Northern Illinois University and Master’s from the University of Maryland, Anies has served in various leadership roles throughout his career, including Rector of Universitas Paramadina (2007-2014), Minister of Education and Culture (2014-2016), and Governor of Jakarta (2017-2022), where he was also elected Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Provincial Governments & served as Vice Chairman of the C-40 Steering Committee internationally.

  2. Believes that a civilization will survive and improve through two powers: Human capability and conscience.

    Since January 2018, Totok has been a Senior Policy Advisor at Governors Delivery Unit in the DKI Jakarta Provincial. He was Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at Universitas Paramadina from 2007 to 2017 and also served as Director of Research at PPPI and Education Knowledge & Management Specialist at ACDP. He has been a Jury Member and Chair of the Frans Seda Award. He holds an Ed.D. from Boston University, an MA from Emerson College, and a Bachelor’s from IPB, and worked as a Research Assistant at Harvard University during his doctoral studies.

  3. Obtained a Master in Public Policy from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.

    He has experience in the mining sector, serving as Head of Support Department at PT Multi Tambangjaya Utama in Central Kalimantan (2013-2014) and as Senior Manager at PT Indika Energy Tbk (2010-2012).

    He was also Special Staff to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia (2014-2016). In 2015, he was appointed Commissioner of PT Patra Jasa & in 2021, he was entrusted as the Chairman of Yayasan Pendidikan Harapan Bersama.

Board of Executives

  1. Seasoned professional with extensive experience in strategic government affairs and driving social change. He is an expert in performance management, education, and a strong advocate for political communication and public policy.

    Dedi played a key role in initiating Jakarta’s city branding campaign, “Plus Jakarta.” His career includes serving on the Human Resources Committee at the Office of the Board of Commissioners of PT Transjakarta (2020-2024), Operations Director of the Governors Delivery Unit in the Jakarta Provincial Government (2018-2022), and Senior Consultant at PWC Consulting (2017-2018). He holds a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Edinburgh Business School.

  2. Believes that collaboration is the key to an ideal city.

    William is the founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Urun Daya Kota Foundation. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Urban Development Studies at the School of Strategic and Global Studies, University of Indonesia.

    He is actively involved in various initiatives that promote participatory urban development. Additionally, he served as a Policy Analyst at the Governors Delivery Unit in the Jakarta Provincial Government (2021-2022).

  3. Fransisca Y. Manopo holds a Master’s degree in Economic Planning and Development Policy from the University of Indonesia.

    Her career began as a Patriot Energi at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (2015-2016). She then served as a Policy Analyst for the Synchronization Team of the Governor and Deputy Governor Elect (2017), followed by roles as Policy Manager and Human Capital & General Affairs Manager at the Governor’s Delivery Unit of Jakarta Provincial Government (2017-2022). She also joined the Secretariat General and Treasury Team for the National Campaign Team of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar (2023-2024).

Board of Experts