Indonesian Female Leaders

Megawati Sukarnoputri is an Indonesian politician who became the first female president of the country in 2001. An important political leader, Sukarnoputri also served as the Vice President of Indonesia from 21 October 1999 to 23 July 2001. Megawati Sukarnoputri is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Star of the Republic of Indonesia award.

Puan Maharani is an Indonesian politician who became the first female to serve as the speaker of the People's Representative Council in 2019. She is also the third-youngest person to serve in that position. An influential political figure, Puan Maharani served as the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs from 2014 to 2019. 

Susi Pudjiastuti is an Indonesian entrepreneur and politician. She is best known for her service as the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries of Indonesia from 2014 to 2019. In 2017, Pudjiastuti was named in the BBC 100 Women list. Susi Pudjiastuti is also the recipient of other prestigious awards such as Metro Eagle Award and Purwa Citra Priangan Award.

Indonesia’s incumbent finance minister, Sri Mulyani Indrawati also serves as the 1st Vice Heads of National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia Steering Committee. She has previously also been the managing director and COO of the World Bank Group. She is known for promoting gender equality.

Grace Natalie is an Indonesian former journalist and television newsreader. Also a political figure, Natalie is credited with founding the Indonesian Solidarity Party. Grace Natalie led the party from 2014 to 2021 before handing over the reins to Giring Ganesha.    

Raden Wulansari, also known as Mulan Jameela, initially soared to fame as part of the Indonesian musical duo Ratu with fellow singer Maia Ahmad, releasing hits such as Teman Tapi Mesra. The singer later joined politics and was elected to be a Member of People's Representative Council.

The first woman to become Indonesia’s foreign minister, Retno Marsudi has previously also served as the Indonesian ambassador to the Netherlands, Norway, and Iceland. She has also been Indonesia’s Director General for America and Europe and has won honors such as the Star of the Republic of Indonesia.

The Indonesian social affairs minister, Tri Rismaharini, also known as Risma, scripted history as the first woman to be the mayor of Surabaya. She is best known for reducing the severity of the flood situation in Surabaya. She was named to the 2013 Forbes list of the 10 Most Inspiring Women.

Mari Elka Pangestu is an Indonesian economist and political figure. She is currently working for the World Bank where she is serving as the managing director of the institution's Development Policy and Partnerships. An important political leader, Mari Elka Pangestu also served as the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy from 2011 to 2014.

Rasuna Said was an Indonesian independence and women's rights activist. She campaigned actively for women's political and educational rights. Rasuna Said was associated with various political organizations and her involvement in her country's struggle for independence earned her a posthumous recognition as the National Heroine of Indonesia. 

The governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa has previously also served as Indonesia’s minister of social affairs and the minister of female empowerment. She is known for her efforts in curbing prostitution and her support of inter-faith unity. She has also chaired the women’s group Muslimat.

Remembered as the first woman to become a navy admiral in the modern world, widowed Aceh warrior Keumalahayati led an army of widows named Inong Balee. She fought valiantly against the Dutch, leading to their surrender and a peace treaty. She died fighting a Portuguese fleet at Teuluk Krueng Raya.

Indonesian socio-political activist Yenny Wahid is the daughter of former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid. Previously a journalist, who worked with publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, she also leads The Wahid Institute as its director and is known for her efforts in focusing on the message of peace in Islam.

Indonesian politician and socialite Hana Hasanah Shahab has been a senator from Gorontalo. She is the wife of former governor of Gorontalo, Fadel Muhammad. However, she herself failed to win the race for the governor as a PDI-P candidate and, later, the 2019 general election as a PPP candidate.

Indonesian singer Emilia Contessa began training in singing at age 5 and later soared to fame as a pop singer and as an actor. She is known for films such as Ratapan Anak Tiri and Tanah Gersang. She later joined politics and served as a Regional Representative Council member from East Java.

Mooryati Soedibyo is an Indonesian businesswoman and political figure. A member of an Indonesian royal family, Soedibyo was ranked seventh on the 99 most influential women list by the Globe Asia magazine in 2007. Mooryati Soedibyo is credited with founding a cosmetics company named Mustika Ratu.

Widyawati is an Indonesian actress best known for her performance in Arini, which earned her the Citra Award for Best Leading Actress at the 1987 Indonesian Film Festival. Widyawati is also a recipient of the Citra Award for Best Supporting Actress, which she received for her performance in Semoga Kau Kembali.

Armida Alisjahbana is an Indonesian economist and politician. She served as the Minister for National Development Planning of Indonesia from 22 October 2009 to 20 October 2014. Armida Alisjahbana is currently serving as the Executive Secretary of UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

Indonesian naval officer Louise Elisabeth Coldenhoff was one of the first 12 seawomen of the Navy Women's Corps. She headed the Directorate General of Sea Transport’s personnel section and the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Jakarta regional office. She retired from the navy as a colonel.