Building a strong Chevening family in Indonesia

Dayu Nirma is strengthening Indonesia’s Chevening community while shaping national policy and supporting climate resilience. As Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist at World Bank Indonesia, Dayu is helping communities affected by climate change, mining, and other natural resource challenges. We find out more. 

Daya’s journey with Chevening was not straightforward.  Inspired early in her career at the World Bank by a colleague who had studied at Oxford, she applied twice unsuccessfully before being invited for an interview on her third attempt. Co-funded by Prudential Indonesia through the Prudence Foundation, her scholarship supported her pursuit of an MSc in Public Management and Governance at the London School of Economics (LSE). 

Practical education for advanced leadership 

Dayu pursued a Master of Science in Public Management and Governance from the London School of Economics (LSE). The case study-based approach helped her understand how to apply theory in practice through real-world insights.  

She additionally signed up for Model UN and found the free exchange of ideas through debate inspiring.  

‘Coming from Indonesia, a country that survived dictatorship, it was amazing to debate intellectually.’  

For her, this was the most valuable aspect of Chevening: respect, open debate, and human rights.  

Supporting nature, communities, and the climate 

Before she had even graduated from LSE, she was offered a promotion from the World Bank. Her team would be advising the administration of Joko Widodo, the incoming president of Indonesia.  

Dayu helped drive the creation of the development roadmap, crediting the skills and knowledge she gained at LSE – and the exposure to real-world perspectives – with preparing her to hit the ground running in a highly influential role.  

Today, she is Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist at World Bank Indonesia, proudly helping communities impacted by climate change, mining, and other natural resource-related issues.  

Creating a home for Cheveners in Indonesia  

Dayu is also proud to have helped launch the Indonesian Chevening Alumni Association – an active, influential network of leaders whose members include politicians, civil servants, business leaders, and development organisation leaders like Dayu. She was its first president and now sits on the board. 

The association organises high-level public discussions featuring Chevening alumni, operates clubs, and runs a buddy programme for aspiring Cheveners who want help with their applications. She also regularly sits on Chevening interview panels – an impressive showcase of resilience and determination after the rejection she faced over ten years ago.  

Dayu also lectures at university, and several of her students have gone on to become Cheveners.  

‘They said it was ‘Ma Dayu’ who exposed them to the Chevening Scholarship. I am very proud, [as] if they were my children. This is already like a second generation of Chevening.’