We have always believed people are the key to sustainable growth and development
Meet the Team
Shaun Wellbourne-Wood
CEO and Principal Researcher
Shaun has been working on education, and human and social development projects for almost 30 years. As he reflects on his career, Shaun credits his diverse academic background, and extensive global experiences for the development of a unique skill set for leading expert teams to develop innovative solutions to global challenges. Shaun is primarily based in Indonesia but has previously lived, studied, or worked on projects in Australia, Botswana, Mauritius, France, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Malaysia, Japan, Zambia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Thailand.
Shaun initially completed undergraduate studies in literature and philosophy at the University of Western Australia (UWA), and also earned a first class honors degree in education and industrial engineering design at Edith Cowan University (ECU). He received the University Medal and Valedictorian for outstanding scholarship, and the highest GPA of the graduating year of more than 2500 students. He received a full PhD scholarship and lectureship and located to Botswana, Africa to undertake social ethnographic research on science and technology education, policy, and learner experiences. He continued to work in Botswana, Mauritius, and Seychelles on UN / World Bank funded programs to upgrade the qualification of science and technology teachers in small nation states. Shaun returned to worked for ten years at the University of Western Australia. He was the Associate Dean (International) in the Faculty of Science and concurrently the Director of the International Science for our Future Festival – working alongside Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall and other exceptional scientists and science communicators on promoting science to more than 50,000 students throughout Southeast Asia.
Shaun moved to Indonesia in 2012 to launch Saksara, and has concurrently held senior positions as the ASEAN Representative of the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN), and was Dean ASEAN at Curtin University up until 2023. Shaun is currently consulting as a Senior Applied Research Specialist with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – working on economic value chain analysis across diverse industry sectors, innovation ecosystem development, energy storage and renewable energy projects, and strategic national semiconductor development.
The guiding principles of Shaun’s career and leadership of Saksara is a commitment to curiosity, scholarship, operational excellence, and creative and innovative thinking. He has embedded within Saksara, the concept of temporary truth – an essential posture in keeping our team humble and constantly curious to better understand the world and its challenges. We anticipate change, new knowledge, and better solutions. Shaun love’s meandering in new places, dusty bookstores in ancient cities, and being surrounded by the family and friends that he values more than all else.
Arlina Suryani
Director
Arlina began her career with the international consulting and auditing firm Arthur Andersen before transitioning to an event management company, where she focused on multinational corporate events and managed press releases and copywriting. She later shifted to international education, building an extensive career across Indonesia and Australia.
Arlina played a key role in establishing Jakarta International College, an Indonesian partner of Monash College and the Monash Foundation Year program, where she served as the inaugural Marketing and Admissions Manager from 2002 to 2007. She then moved into the education advising and consultancy sector, becoming General Manager of Sri Lankan operations for one of India’s largest international education advisory service companies, overseeing more than 17 branches. After returning to Indonesia, Arlina co-owned and directed an education advisory and consultancy firm in Bandung.
In 2011, Arlina joined The University of Western Australia (UWA) as the Coordinator for the International Science for Our Future Festival in Singapore and Indonesia, and later within the Office of International Affairs, specializing in global admissions.
Arlina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Marketing. Her love for books with historical and cultural themes stems from an early admiration and fascination for the works of Pearl S. Buck and Amy Tan.
Dinda Larasati
Partner and Senior Research and Projects Coordinator
Dinda is an Economics graduate from Parahyangan Catholic University. She began her career with a social entrepreneurship company dedicated to preserving Indonesia’s hand-woven textile heritage, collaborating with artisans in Mamasa, Toraja, Lembata, and Adonara. Her work included community empowerment initiatives, such as organizing sewing workshops for housewives, as well as cultural heritage programs, including the Asian Textile Exhibition at the Jakarta Textile Museum.
Since joining Saksara in 2018, Dinda has contributed to research projects focusing around human capital development, international education, and economic value chains. She has also coordinated impactful programs, such as professional development workshops and international higher education initiatives, including the Inspiring International Research Excellence Symposium hosted by the Australian Technology Network and student exchanges and industry placements funded by the Australian government’s New Colombo Plan.
More recently, Dinda organized the International Energy Storage Symposium on behalf of Curtin University, promoting collaboration in energy storage and the energy transition. She also coordinated the Urban Futures Leadership Academy, facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions on sustainable smart city development while working alongside esteemed institutions like the Asian Development Bank and Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities.
Outside her professional endeavors, Dinda enjoys experimental baking and traveling.
Safira Salma Nadhira
International Research Associate
Simon Leunig
Partner and Senior International Higher Education Specialist
Safira holds a Bachelor’s degree in Forestry Engineering from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). She began her career at a nature-based company, where she developed a strong interest in sustainability and climate change, gaining experience in initiative development and cross-functional coordination to support sustainability strategies within business operations.
Safira works on research projects related to technology and innovation as well as higher education transformation projects throughout Asia. She specializes in data management and analysis, framework development, and communication of concept notes to international stakeholders. She approaches her work with a strong commitment to continuous learning and excellence in stakeholder engagements.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys activities that connect her with nature and experimenting with cooking in her personal time.
Simon Leunig has developed a reputation as an innovative leader in international education, with a career spanning strategic development, global partnerships, and institutional transformation. From 2020-2025, he has served as Pro Vice-Chancellor and President of Curtin Malaysia, where he has led major initiatives shaping the university’s growth and impact. One of his key achievements at Curtin Malaysia is the ‘Future Focus’ initiative, which realigned course offerings to match regional economic priorities and post-pandemic recovery efforts. This strategic shift resulted in significant growth and job creation outcomes. Simon played a vital role in enhancing Curtin Malaysia’s research profile, contributing to achieving the highest rating in the Malaysia Research Assessment (MyRA) system, and advancing towards Research University status.
Simon has also been instrumental in developing a dual-sector approach to skills training and community development in Sarawak, Borneo. He introduced both pathway diplomas and standalone TVET courses in aquaculture, IT, and healthcare. These reforms addressed local community needs and enabled students to graduate with job-ready skills, and the ability to continue to more advanced studies. He also played a key role in securing over 20 million ringgit in funding from private industry and quasi-government agencies for applied research projects. His work has driven innovation in AI applications in agriculture, aquaculture water monitoring, and using algae as a protein source. With a strong focus on the commercialization of research, he actively fosters collaborations between academia and industry to develop practical solutions with real-world impact.
Before being appointed to Pro Vice-Chancellor, he was Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International at Curtin University (2016–2020), where he led a complete overhaul of the university’s international engagement strategies. He played a central role in establishing the Western Australia–East Java University Consortium, and strengthening academic ties across Southeast Asia. His work with the Study Perth board helped reshape strategies to attract international students to Perth, reinforcing the city’s appeal as an education hub.
Throughout his career, he has built and managed high-level global partnerships, securing agreements with Indonesian educational ministries and leading multi-university collaborations. His expertise extends to policy development, digital recruitment, and admissions process improvements across Curtin’s global campuses. Professor Leunig’s qualifications include a Master of Education and an MBA in International Business, complementing his extensive leadership experience. His contributions to the field have been recognized through multiple awards and professional affiliations, including a fellowship with the Institute of Marketing, and as a respected leader, board member, and advocate for global education.