Mercy Francisca Sinaga Becomes BritCham Indonesia's First Female Chair
The British Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia (BritCham Indonesia) has made history by electing Mercy Francisca Sinaga, affectionately known as Cisca, as the first female Chair in the organisation’s history. The decision was finalised during the BritCham Indonesia 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Cisca, who currently serves as the Director, Chief Legal and Government Relations Officer at Prudential Indonesia, succeeds Ian Betts, who previously led BritCham Indonesia. This appointment marks a significant milestone for the organisation, which has existed for over four decades, and signifies the growing role of women in business leadership.
This historic momentum arrives amidst the strengthening strategic ties between the UK and Indonesia, particularly following the signing of the UK–Indonesia Strategic Partnership and the Economic Growth Partnership (EGP) earlier this year. The election of Cisca does not only mark a change in leadership but also serves as a symbol of the continued transformation of BritCham Indonesia as a strategic platform for business dialogue, policy advocacy, and institutional collaboration between the two nations.
Over the past year, BritCham Indonesia has strengthened its role in supporting bilateral relations through active engagement with the British Embassy in Jakarta, the Department for Business and Trade, KADIN (the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), the Indonesian government, and various business organisations and member companies. Under the leadership of Ian Betts, BritCham evolved from a traditional membership organisation into a strategic hub connecting the business sector, government, academia, regulators, and industry leaders.
In his final message as Chair, Ian Betts highlighted the theme “Only Connect”, a philosophy describing BritCham’s role as a connector between nations, companies, institutions, ideas, sectors, and society. Throughout the last year, BritCham Indonesia has actively supported key agendas related to UK-Indonesia economic relations, including discussions on the Economic Growth Partnership, sectoral dialogues, and high-level meetings involving ministers, ambassadors, and regulators.
BritCham has also contributed to supporting British trade missions and visits by senior British officials, particularly in sectors such as clean energy, cybersecurity, financial services, maritime cooperation, and investment. One flagship programme, the Maritime Partnership Programme titled “Building a Maritime Nation”, brought together stakeholders from both countries to strengthen maritime capacity, skill development, and industrial partnerships.
In addition to strengthening business ties, BritCham Indonesia is active in public policy consultations. The organisation’s advocacy focus includes investment regulations, industrial development, taxation, labour, health, sustainability, digitalisation, halal implementation, special economic zones, and business licensing. Through collaboration with KADIN and various national business associations, Britcham aims to strengthen inter-institutional relations and foster a more competitive and inclusive investment climate.
Responding to the appointment, Mercy Francisca Sinaga expressed both pride and a sense of great responsibility as the first woman to lead BritCham Indonesia. “I hope to build upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessors and work closely with members and stakeholders to advance UK–Indonesia business relations,” said Cisca.
Meanwhile, Ian Betts expressed his confidence that BritCham will continue to thrive under Cisca’s leadership. “Ms Cisca brings great energy, passion, and commitment to this role. She will also be the first woman to lead BritCham Indonesia. This is a significant milestone that is well worth celebrating for this Chamber,” said Ian.
The British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, and Honorary President of BritCham Indonesia, HMA Dominic Jermey CVO OBE, also expressed appreciation for Cisca’s election. According to him, BritCham is a strategic partner in strengthening the implementation of the Strategic Partnership and the Economic Growth Partnership between the UK and Indonesia.
As the Director, Chief Legal and Government Relations Officer at Prudential Indonesia, Cisca plays a key role in supporting corporate governance, regulatory relations, policy engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. This experience is considered a strong asset for leading BritCham Indonesia through the increasingly complex dynamics of international economic and trade relations.