Shofwan Hidayat

Background

About Shofwan Hidayat

As a Policy and Research Analyst at Indonesia’s Employers Association (APINDO), I work with multiple stakeholders to navigate the intersection of business and public policy—two spheres often viewed as distinct. My role enables me to leverage insights from both areas to align business and public interests to achieve economic development. If I should explain myself in one sentence, I would describe myself as an ambidextrous future policymaker with a mission to advocate for equality. In the long run, I aspire to become a policymaker, guided by my lifelong motto: advocating for equality through public policy. I consider myself ambidextrous because of my ability to embrace duality. My academic background in Urban and Regional Planning at ITB nurtured a dual approach—combining the technical aspects of development with socio-economic and governance dimensions. This blend shaped my ability to merge an engineering mindset with a sensitivity to social issues. Professionally, I have also worked in various angles: the government perspective at Bappenas, the business side at Waskita Karya and APINDO, the research viewpoint at J-PAL, and the political lens through my contribution to a presidential candidacy’s policy team. These experiences have made me a specialized generalist, focusing on urban, regional, and international development while addressing broader issues in public policy. For me, ambidexterity also means balancing international competence with grassroots understanding—ensuring that global competence is grounded in knowledge and empathy toward the struggles of marginalized grassroots.