Rustam (Founder)
Rustam is a native of Kalimantan and a lecturer in the Faculty of Forestry at Mulawarman University. With more than 20 years of experience in wildlife conservation and biodiversity monitoring in Borneo, he has a large professional network and has published with more than 90 collaborators. Rustam has also been active in climate issues and is a member of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility Program in East Kalimantan.
Purwo Kuncoro (Chairperson)
Purwo is a wildlife and orangutan behavior admirer. Between 2001-2009, he studied ex-captive and rehabilitated orangutans in East and Central Kalimantan in forest schools, orangutan islands, and reintroduction sites. Purwo crossed over into the world of wild orangutans in 2010 and has since been leading behavioral and ecological research on Northeast Bornean orangutans in Kutai National Park.
Indah Sartika Sari (Secretary)
Indah is a passionate wildlife conservationist with a Master’s degree in Conservation and Biodiversity. As a PhD student at Universitas Gadjah Mada and Utrecht University, she is leading bioacoustics research in Central Kalimantan. Indah values the role of local and indigenous communities in conservation and believes that their knowledge and participation are essential for lasting environmental solutions. She has been working closely with communities through research, education, and conservation in Kalimantan since 2016.
Nova Devriance (Treasurer)
Nova is a forester from Mulawarman University who is enthusiastic about applying her knowledge and passion to her dream profession. She has a deep interest in wildlife research, especially the mammals and frogs of Borneo. Nova has seven years of experience in a high conservation value area in East Kalimantan, where she works to manage biodiversity in a mixed-use landscape.
Ermayanti (Board Member)
Ermayanti completed her Bachelor’s in Biology at National University (UNAS) and her Master’s in Biology Conservation at the University of Indonesia (UI), and has been working for more than 30 years in natural resource conservation and management across Indonesia. She is an experienced professional specializing in biodiversity conservation and spatial planning, community mapping, database development, and management with extensive work in Papua as well as Kalimantan and Sumatra. Ermayanti’s strong history of multi-stakeholder engagement, particularly with Indonesian government bodies at national and regional levels, including Ministries of Home Affairs, Agrarian Planning, Environment and Forestry, and BAPPENAS, makes her an invaluable advisor and member of the Suara Rimba team.
Rahayu Oktaviani (Board Member)
Ayu is a primate conservationist specializing in Javan gibbon behavior and ecology. She holds a Bachelor’s in forest resources conservation from Bogor Botanical Institute (IPB) and a Master’s in ecology from Ewha Womans University. As co-vice chair of the IUCN Primate Specialist Group Section on Small Apes, she collaborates globally on gibbon conservation. Ayu is also the co-founder and director of KIARA, an Indonesian NGO dedicated to protecting Javan gibbons through research, education, and community engagement. In 2023, she received the Conservationist Award and Kyes Award for Excellence in Conservation Outreach from the American Society of Primatologists (ASP) for her efforts in primate conservation and local empowerment.
Wendy Erb (Scientific Advisor)
Wendy is a scientist at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and holds a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology. Through the co-construction of participatory research, conservation, and capacity-sharing programs around bioacoustics, biocultural heritage, and human-environment connection, Wendy’s work highlights local knowledge, values, and voices. She has lived and studied in the forests of Indonesia over the last 20 years and is the recipient of two Fulbright Scholar awards to pursue her research on Kalimantan’s endangered primates.
Walker DePuy (Scientific Advisor)
Walker is a postdoctoral fellow at the Asia Research Institute of the National University of Singapore and has a Ph.D. in Integrative Conservation and Anthropology. Using ethnographic and participatory methods, his work centers on the politics of conservation in mosaic landscapes with an emphasis on environmental governance and justice. Walker has lived and worked in Indonesia over the last 12 years and has previously received a Fulbright Scholar award to study green development and local acoustic knowledge in East Kalimantan.
Ebrry Dwi Putra (Program Coordinator, Mungku Baru)
Ebrry joined us in July 2024 after completing his Bachelor’s in Biology at Universitas Palangka Raya. Ebrry has a dream to contribute to bioacoustics research, build bioacoustics relationships, and share his knowledge and experience with local schools, universities, and communities in Central Kalimantan.
Pardi (Research Technician, Kutai)
Originally from Pare Pare, South Sulawesi, Pardi has worked as a field technician at Mentoko since 2009. His favorite research activity is observing orangutans, and in his spare time, Pardi most enjoys fishing. Pardi has extraordinary forest navigation abilities (he's a human GPS), and his extensive experiences with and knowledge of Kutai forests and orangutans are invaluable contributions to the project.
Dheana Puspa Dewi (Program Coordinator, Kutai)
Born and raised in Tangerang, Banten, on the island of Java, Dheana is the newest member of our Kutai team, joining in January 2025. Since arriving in Mentoko, she has most enjoyed discovering cool animals that you usually only see in a zoo and marveling at the giant trees in Kutai's forests. Dheana is completing her Master's degree in Biology at the Bogor Botanical Institute (IPB), where she studied siamang behavior for her thesis.
Isur (Research Technician, Kutai)
Isur was born in Bone, South Sulawesi, and grew up in Samboja, East Kalimantan. As a research technician, he most enjoys observing orangutans. Isur's hobbies include fishing and playing soccer. Isur is cherished in camp for his great sense of humor and the kindness and care he shows to others.
Mohammad Randi (Randi) (Research Technician, Kutai)
Randi first came to Mentoko in January 2025, moving from Parimo, Central Sulawesi, to join the program. Since arriving in Kutai, he has most enjoyed observing orangutans, and his hobbies include sports and listening to music.
Justi (Program Coordinator, Kutai)
Justi was born in Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, and is currently completing his Master's degree in Forestry at IPB. Justi has a wide range of interests, including research, community engagement, outdoor activities, and social initiatives. Driven by his deep love for nature, he founded the Hutan.in movement as a platform to promote social and ecological justice. Justi joined the team in February 2025 and has recently developed an interest in bioacoustics as part of his commitment to environmental research and species conservation.
Ahmad Agus Saktiawan (Awan) (Research Technician, Kutai)
Awan was born in Pinrang, South Sulawesi. His hobbies include soccer, badminton, and jogging. Awan joined the Kutai program in March 2025 and enjoys observing orangutans and taking trips around the Sangatta River in the project boat.
