Indonesia’s Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti can add being one of the world’s greatest living thinkers to her ever-growing list of accolades after being named in Foreign Policy magazine’s 100 Global Thinkers list for 2019.
The esteemed publication recently released the 10th edition of its list — this one being a special edition celebrating the 10th anniversary of Global Thinkers — which names notable thinkers and doers who have had profound impacts on the world over the past year.
The 100 thinkers are grouped into 10 categories and Susi was included in the list of 10 individuals who had the most profound impacts on defense and security. In their profile about Susi, Foreign Policy wrote:
“Susi Pudjiastuti is committed to regenerating her country’s vital fish stocks in ways that are accumulating both fans and enemies. She doesn’t shy away from using scare tactics—Susi is known for blowing up boats that have been caught fishing illegally in Indonesia’s territorial waters. Her brusque approach has coincided with a major downturn in poaching but also a rise in diplomatic tensions with China.”
While that pretty much sums up why Susi is popular in Indonesia (and why she’s one of the most effective ministers in President Joko Widodo’s cabinet), there is much more to our impressive fisheries minister. Susi is also a highly successful businesswoman (having started her own airline, Susi Air) an avid paddle boater, renowned environmentalist, rock star, Wonder Woman, and a catwalk model.
Susi is also the only Indonesian to make Foreign Policy’s Global Thinkers list this year. Another Indonesian to make the list in previous years was former Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who was chosen for standing up to Indonesia’s creeping fundamentalism.
In this year’s list, Susi is featured alongside such esteemed figures as Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, and the women of the #MeToo movement.
Click here to read Foreign Policy’s 2019 Global Thinkers list in full.
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