Prof Emerita Virginia Hooker AM: The many sides of Mbak Nia’s relationship with Indonesia

A number of Australian academics whose work focuses on the study of Indonesia have received honours over the years, including Emeritus Professor David T Hill, Associate Professor Greg Fealy AM, and Honorary Associate Professor Peter McCawley AM. On 26 January 2022 Emeritus Professor Virginia Hooker AM (Mbak Nia) joined them.

How important is it for Australians doing Indonesian studies to get authentic experiences with Indonesians? Source: Courtesy: Prof Emerita Virginia Hooker AM

Virginia Hooker is Professor Emerita and Fellow in the Department of Political and Social Change at the College of Asia and the Pacific, ANU. Mbak Nia retells the history of her relationship with Indonesia and explains the approach needed to develop Indonesia expertise in our students.

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Emeritus Professor Virginia Hooker has made a major contribution to South East Asian studies in Australia. Source: Courtesy: Prof Emerita Virginia Hooker AM