T

he Australian Embassy will present nine awards to alumni of Australian universities in a gala dinner slated for Feb. 21 to recognize Indonesians who have studied in Australia and returned home to excel in their fields.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said last week 38 nominees active in business, environmental affairs, the media, culture and academe had been selected by their peers and past Alumni Award winners.

The diverse group of nominees include the editor of Jakarta Java Kini magazine Alex Hansel Simanjuntak, chairman of Paramadina University's Center for Islam Yudi Latif, special adviser for legal affairs to the president of Indonesia Denny Indrayana, and Linggar Seni art gallery owner Mia Maria.

The awards are handed out in nine categories in all, including for sustainable social and economic development, for research and innovation, for culture and the arts as all as a special award for young achievers.

Speaking at the dinner honoring the nominees, Farmer reaffirmed the Australian government's commitment to helping improve education and living standards in Indonesia even as Australia's economy is feeling the pinch from the global economic crisis.

"*The economic crisis* will not affect the level of assistance offered to Indonesia," he said.

The evening also acknowledged the work of prominent Indonesians with the presentation of special awards for their work in the community.

"These individuals have worked tirelessly . driven by their passion for contributing to improving the lives of others," Farmer said.

Recipient Abdullah Alamudi, honored for his contribution to the media in Indonesia, is currently serving on the Indonesian Press Council and has provided guidance to the government, the military and lawyers on the importance of press freedom.

Lubna Algadrie also received an award for her contribution to education and language studies; I Made Nitis won for his agricultural research.