PITCH 2025
Monash's third PITCH (PhD Interdisciplinary Team Challenge) at our Jakarta campus brought together 126 students from across Monash and partner Indonesian universities. Working in 13 interdisciplinary teams, students developed imaginative solutions to societal challenges in Indonesia, inspiring us with their creativity and collaboration.
The PITCH program embodies Monash’s ambition to connect knowledge with purpose, uniting students from across the University to address real societal challenges. By engaging with issues relevant to industry, government, and communities across the Indo-Pacific, it strengthens Monash’s role as a university deeply connected to the world it serves.
Presentations
Group 9 - Winners
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that can generate a scalable model for resilient, craft-based MSMEs in Bandung - one that preserves artisanal heritage while embracing digital tools, sustainable practices, and global market access.
Researchers: Chee Siew, Enise Tatlidil, Kai Sun, Novita Puspasari, Uyen Le, Wawan Kurniawan, Dicky Faizal, Jessica Kim, Borui Fang, Nur Sabrina Abdul Basit
Group 3 - Runners Up
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that contributes to Indonesia’s goal to reduce child stunting.
Researchers: Akanksha Singh, Charulatha Pitigala, Paulo Simon, Lok Kok Hou, Callum Kimpton, Yiwen Yuan, Daniel Pandapotan, Risty Khoirunisa, Endah Wintarsih
Group 12 - People's Choice
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that contributes to Indonesia’s goal to reduce child stunting.
Researchers: Mehdi Parivazh, Febrina Tri Hartanti, Kriti Bijalwan, Sam Wade, Milad Baghalzadeh Shishehgarkhaneh, Sharifah Rose Ee, Widanalage Fernando, Putri Herlia, Rheinana Kaniaswari, Andi Windah
Group 5 - Special Commendation
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity associated with Greater Jakarta’s ride-hailing boom.
Researchers: Lovish Raheja, Shireen Moti, Thamodi Wapola, Furhan Khan, Jay Allen Villon, Fazlur Rahman Hassan, Vidushani Dhanawansa, Amanda Tan, Miriam Rustam, Akriti Sethi
Group 1
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity focussed on the challenge of clean, reliable, and affordable power supply in remote regions in Indonesia.
Researchers: Ruchi Sembey, Brijesh, Agustina Arumardi, Laura Wallace, Rubendran Loganathan, Yanxi Shen, Eman Salim, Khumaisa Nuraini, Harinash Rao
Group 2
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity focussed on the challenge of improving air quality in the Greater Jakarta Area.
Researchers: Soffi Law, Hiromi Ikeda, Linjia He, Sanket Deshpande, Aditya Sharma, Subindra Thapa, Yayan Riyanto, Alif Handoyo, Juwita Sari
Group 4
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that ensures digital safety for all Indonesians, so that the digital space becomes a force that strengthens, rather than undermines, Digital Indonesia 2045.
Researchers: Akhilesh Modi, Mirah Mahaswari, Loo Hoi Leong, Tanuj Joshi, Rangga Radityaputra, Yuanya Zhuo, Maria Dian, Ira Rachmadewi, Omid Aghamohammadi Varnousfaderani
Group 6
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that strengthens the education ecosystem so students and teachers can succeed at scale, align with PISA-type skills in reasoning, modelling, and problem solving.
Researchers: Zakia Haque, Clara Hetty Primasari, Jeron Joseph, Maqbool Umar, Sagnik Nag, Theresa Symons, Zhishang Wu, Ari Shobri, Fithrothul Khikmah, Binuki Wanniarachchi
Group 7
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that transforms Indonesia’s nickel industry from raw ore exports to a globally competitive electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain hub, maximizing domestic value-addition and industrial upgrading.
Researchers: Darsan Haridas, Darlene Koh, Rashed Azizi, Mary Tullipan, Premananda Ghosh, Thuy Nguyen, Zhuan Leong, Febriangga Harmawan, Rathria Rachman, Jun Cheng Kho
Group 8
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that addresses Indonesia’s most pressing FDI barriers and creates sustainable competitive advantages to attract and retain high-quality foreign investment.
Researchers: Amelia Miklavec, Maryam Mounesan, Rainier Arnolda, Sanjay Nugehalli, Tirthankar Ghosh, Trisia Megawati, Alfa Pradana, Lane Carrandi, Reem Ibrahim
Group 10
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity focussed on the challenge of clean, reliable, and affordable power supply in remote regions in Indonesia.
Researchers: Fatima Izhar, Kamrajeet Sarna, Melissa Abou Chakra, Jia Li, Santiago Cortinez, Wei Ch’ng, Selly Setiaty, Bangsawan, Darien Cipta, Yanlin Long
Group 11
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity focussed on the challenge of improving air quality in the Greater Jakarta Area.
Researchers: Rhea DSilva, Fatima Zahoor, Keerthanav, Mey Ea, Raymond Hyma, Mak Wen Qi, Syahida Aul, Gianluca Vidali, Kevin Kristian, Seyedmohammadreza Shams
Group 13
Challenge: Consider an intervention or opportunity that ensures digital safety for all Indonesians, so that the digital space becomes a force that strengthens, rather than undermines, Digital Indonesia 2045.
Researchers: Birat Gautam, Lam Thi Pham, Min Tang, Xue Ruo Ng, Yesita Vera Saraswati, Shuvojit Nath, Muhammad Mishbah, Radita Arauna, Choirul Huda, Alex Pascoe