Cover Tatler Most Influential 2025 list features 60 influential figures from Indonesia, including Didik Nini Thowok, Najwa Shihab, Aleta Baun , E. Aminudin Aziz, and Andra Matin.
Tatler Most Influential 2025 list features 60 influential figures from Indonesia, including Didik Nini Thowok, Najwa Shihab, Aleta Baun , E. Aminudin Aziz, and Andra Matin.
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From artists and social innovators to business leaders, the Tatler Most Influential 2025 Indonesia honourees come from diverse fields, showcasing creativity, empathy and impactful leadership
Indonesia stands at a pivotal moment in its journey toward progress. Despite navigating political and economic challenges on the global stage, the nation continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and creativity. Beyond headlines of inflation and market fluctuations, a new wave of individuals is driving change through art, culture, business, and social activism. They are not only symbols of endurance but also proof that Indonesia’s advancement today is defined by the diversity of its talent and the sincerity of its purpose.
Read more: Tatler Most Influential 2025: these are the Malaysian leaders at the forefront of their industries
Above Legendary dance maestro Didik Nini Thowok
Above Avip Priatna, conductor and music educator who has become an important pillar in the world of Indonesian choirs and orchestras
Legendary dance maestro Didik Nini Thowok
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The arts and culture sector, in particular, has taken the spotlight this year. In Yogyakarta, legendary dance maestro Didik Nini Thowok has dedicated more than five decades of his life to the evolution of Indonesian dance, especially in the realm of cross-gender performance. More than just a dancer, Didik is a true polymath—an artist, cultural figure, choreographer, actor, mime performer, comedian, and teacher.
In Jakarta, Avip Priatna, a conductor and music educator, stands as a central figure in Indonesia’s choral and orchestral development. A graduate of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, he is the founder of the Jakarta Concert Orchestra (JCO), Batavia Madrigal Singers (BMS), and The Resonanz Children’s Choir (TRCC)—three institutions that have shaped the renaissance of classical music in the country.
Heading east to Indonesia’s Nusa Tenggara Timur, Aleta Baun, affectionately known as Mama Aleta, stands as a respected leader of the Mollo indigenous community. She is widely recognized for her environmental advocacy and efforts to empower women within her community. Equally inspiring is Butet Manurung, an educator and activist who pioneered literacy programs for the Orang Rimba, a nomadic community living deep within the forests of Jambi. Her lifelong dedication to reaching and uplifting marginalized indigenous groups has made her one of Indonesia’s most admired changemakers. Bagus Muljadi, an academic, has leveraged his YouTube channel, Chronicles, to explore issues of engineering and sustainability, specifically highlighting Indonesia's unique potential as a "new world laboratory."
Across the nation, social activism is taking on increasingly innovative forms, from grassroots initiatives that champion education and gender equality to tech-driven projects bringing opportunity and awareness to remote communities.
Above Mama Aleta, leader of the indigenous community from Mollo, East Nusa Tenggara (Photo: Adrian Mulya)
Above Bagus Muljadi is a tenured assistant professor in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham, with affiliation with Virginia Tech in the USA
Mama Aleta, leader of the indigenous community from Mollo, East Nusa Tenggara (Photo: Adrian Mulya)
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Indonesia’s business landscape continues to captivate attention, becoming increasingly dynamic and fast-growing. The rise of digital startups, local lifestyle brands, and companies built on sustainability principles reflects a new face of Indonesian entrepreneurship. Many of these ventures are led by a younger generation who see business not merely as an economic tool, but as a platform to create meaningful social impact.
Above Nurhayati Subakat, founder of ParagonCorp, the company behind major cosmetic brands
Above Andanu Prasetyo is widely known as the figure behind Toko Kopi Tuku, which pioneered the local coffee movement
Nurhayati Subakat, founder of ParagonCorp, the company behind major cosmetic brands
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One of the most visionary figures in Indonesia’s business scene is Nurhayati Subakat, the founder and driving force behind ParagonCorp, the company behind leading beauty brands such as Wardah, Make Over, and Emina. Under her leadership, ParagonCorp has grown into a market leader in Indonesia’s beauty industry and an influential player on the regional stage.
Meanwhile, a new wave of young entrepreneurs is reshaping Indonesia’s F&B landscape. Andanu Prasetyo, the visionary behind the coffee movement Toko Kopi Tuku, sparked a nationwide trend with his signature iced coffee. His bold move to purchase the naming rights for MRT Cipete Tuku Station stands as a stroke of marketing genius—blending brand storytelling with local identity and pride.
Similarly, Edward Tirtanata, founder of Kopi Kenangan, has proven that local brands can compete on a global scale. Through innovative business strategies and smart use of digital technology, he has turned Kopi Kenangan into one of the fastest-growing coffee chains in Southeast Asia.
Meet the rest of the Indonesia honourees on the Tatler Most Influential 2025
Above Veddriq Leonardo is a cliff-hanger athlete who has achieved extraordinary achievements in international events
Above Rizki Juniansyah, a talented young weightlifter, not only won gold at the 2024 Olympics. He recently won two gold medals at the 2025 World Championships
Veddriq Leonardo is a cliff-hanger athlete who has achieved extraordinary achievements in international events
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In sports, public attention has long gravitated toward football and badminton—two disciplines that have dominated the national stage for decades. Yet in recent years, a new chapter has emerged with the rise of two young athletes who have delivered extraordinary achievements on the international stage. Both secured gold medals at the 2024 Olympics in sport climbing and weightlifting.
Veddriq Leonardo not only claimed gold but also broke the world record in men’s speed climbing with a time of 5.01 seconds at the 2023 Climbing World Cup in South Korea, further cementing Indonesia’s dominance in the sport. Alongside him, Rizki Juniansyah, a gifted young weightlifter, has emerged as one of the brightest new stars in international weightlifting—showcasing the next generation of Indonesian sporting excellence on the global stage.
The honourees of Tatler Most Influential 2025 Indonesia come from a wide range of fields, yet they share one defining trait: a deep passion for their craft that translates into meaningful contributions to society.
As with other editions across the Tatler Asia network, this year’s 60 Indonesian figures are recognised based on four key pillars: impact, relevance, longevity, and leadership. These criteria reflect Tatler’s belief that influence is not measured by the size of one’s platform, but by the depth of one’s impact on others.
