H.E. Ms. Meutya Hafid

Speaker Bio

Meutya Viada Hafid, a graduate of the University of New South Wales (2001) with a bachelor’s degree in manufacturing engineering and the University of Indonesia (2018) with a master’s degree in political science. She has served as Chair of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives since 2019. During her tenure as Chair of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives in 2019-2024, she has produced 13 laws. Since 2010, she has served as a Member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the Golkar Party with the electoral district of North Sumatra.

Previously, she worked as a journalist at Metro TV and was a host on several television shows. She was held hostage for seven days in 2005 by a group of armed men while on duty in Iraq. On September 28, 2007, Meutya launched a book she wrote herself, namely 168 Hours in Hostage: Memoirs of a Journalist Held Hostage in Iraq. On October 11, 2007, Meutya Hafid was selected as the winner of the Elizabeth O’Neill Journalism Award, from Australia. Once named one of the five Inspirational Press Figures of Indonesia by Mizan and the youngest woman to receive the award.

Born on May 3, 1978, this daughter of Soppeng, South Sulawesi has been active in the Golkar Party since 2016 and the MKGR mass organization since 2020. Since October 21, 2024, Meutya Viada Hafid has been serving as the Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, appointed by President Prabowo Subianto. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing national policies related to digital transformation, telecommunications, information governance, and the development of Indonesia’s digital ecosystem.