Does Not Feel Special as First Female BI Governor, Destry Emulates Kartini Figure

Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor, Destry Damayanti, admitted her surprise that her capacity as the first woman to serve as BI Governor in Indonesia is often regarded as something special.

She asserted that since the era of independence, many female fighters have participated in Indonesia’s struggle for freedom. She cited the figure of Kartini, which she believes serves as an affirmation that both men and women are equal and possess their own respective competencies in leadership.

“Mother Kartini has shown that men and women are the same; what matters is that they possess competence, integrity, and leadership,” Destry said in the Tanah Abang area, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, 3 September 2026.

“Therefore, it means that whether a person is a woman or a man, as long as they are deemed to have the ability, they also have the opportunity,” she added.

Destry emphasised that regardless of gender, as long as an individual possesses clear leadership capabilities, there should be no barriers to leading an institution, including a central bank.

Consequently, she expressed her gratitude to President Prabowo and the House of Representatives (DPR) for providing the trust and space for women to lead the central bank.

This includes the ranks of BI Senior Deputy Governors, which currently include names such as Aida S. Budiman and Filianingsih Hendarta, who also serves as a BI Deputy Governor.

“We are grateful to be given this opportunity. In Indonesia, we have great women working in sectors that were previously considered male-dominated,” said Destry.

“Such as positions in the mining sector (which are now held by women), there are many. Especially in the financial sector, there are a great many women,” she concluded.