Taufan Rahmadi: From Newspaper Boy to Danantara Senior Vice President
The pioneer of the ‘Catwalk In The Air: Lombok Sumbawa in the Sky of Indonesia’ program on Garuda Indonesia aircraft in 2014, Taufan Rahmadi, is now Senior Vice President (SVP) of the Brand Management Office at Danantara. He played a key role in Lombok’s international award as the world’s best halal tourism destination the following year.
In 2015, Lombok received this prestigious award at the World Halal Travel Award 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. At the time, the programme’s initiator held the position of Chairman of the West Nusa Tenggara Provincial Tourism Promotion Board (2014-2016).
“I am proud that he is a native of Lombok, NTB. Now he serves as Senior Vice President of the Brand Management Office at Danantara, the state wealth management agency. Yes, Mr Taufan Rahmadi,” said NTB social observer Kholis Hudaya on Friday, 29 May 2026.
According to Kholis, as SVP of Danantara’s BMO, Taufan has the authority to communicate with all state-owned enterprises (BUMNs) currently under Danantara’s management.
However, Kholis noted that Taufan remains unchanged. His spirit of self-reliance and respect for others persists in the man who previously served on the Acceleration Team for 10 Priority Tourism Destinations and as Mandalika’s focal point for the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (2016-2018).
Taufan, Kholis added, was also known as the driving force behind the establishment of Nurul Bilad Mosque in Mandalika and the development of tourism villages in Lombok, now recognised as world-class destinations.
“Those unfamiliar with Taufan might assume his current position as SVP of Danantara’s BMO was achieved through privilege. However, few know that he once worked as a newspaper delivery boy. He never forgets his roots,” Kholis said.
Before working in air-conditioned offices, Taufan was accustomed to the scorching sun. He earned 100 or 200 rupiah from selling newspapers. This experience taught him the value of every single rupiah.
He worked as a newspaper delivery boy from 1999 to 2001 around Lombok. Taufan regularly sold Suara NTB and other local newspapers from markets, streets to door-to-door. His monthly earnings were around Rp 1.5 million.
“Yes, that amount was sufficient for daily living,” Taufan confirmed.
After completing his undergraduate studies at Airlangga University, Taufan established an event organising business in Lombok, his birthplace. Kholis explained that this venture honed his business skills and sparked his creative DNA, leading to ideas that steered him towards the tourism sector.
“It was the tourism sector that introduced Taufan to Professor Sapta Nirwandar, then Deputy Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (2011-2014). Professor Sapta was Taufan’s mentor. Their meeting refined his understanding of tourism, which he deeply loves,” Kholis said.
“This positive relationship continued as Taufan actively assisted Tourism and Creative Economy Ministers Arief Yahya (2014-2019) and Sandiaga Uno (2020-2024),” Kholis added.
During the 2024 presidential election, Taufan served as a tourism advisor in the Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka National Campaign Team (TKN). He was the sole Lombok native to hold a position on the TKN advisory council.
“And now, Taufan is once again the only Lombok native to hold a senior leadership role at Danantara. This is a source of pride for us,” Kholis said.
Meanwhile, Taufan acknowledged that his role as SVP of Danantara’s BMO is no easy task. He is responsible for ensuring that state-owned enterprises’ reputations are not just on paper but felt directly by the public.
“Alhamdulillah, I have the foundation from all the hard work I’ve done, starting in Lombok. Perhaps we cannot choose who we are born as, but we can choose how we are remembered,” Taufan said.