Dr Zulhamsyah Imran, lecturer at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), was appointed as the new Deputy Director for Administration (DDA) of SEAMEO BIOTROP for three years starting 01 January 2018 until 31 December 2020. He replaced Prof Arief Sabdo Yuwono who had to leave the Centre to serve as full-time professor of IPB.

During his orientation to BIOTROP on 29 December 2017 with the Centre staff, Dr Zulham told the staff that it is an honor for him to serve the Centre and be a part of BIOTROP family. He expressed his desire to help develop new and enhance the existing operational systems of the Centre to better serve its stakeholders through his professional experiences and expertise. He added that he also wants to contribute to improve the quality and quantity of publications and other informational materials for greater visibility of the Centre by capitalizing on his work experiences as a former deputy director for knowledge management of a nongovernmental organizational called Blue Carbon Consortium.

Dr Zulham holds a PhD degree from Hiroshima University with specialization on Coastal Area Management, Water Resources Management, and Coastal and Marine Resources Management. He has published several research papers in many reputable journals as well as presented them in scientific conferences, both in Indonesia and abroad.

Aside from being BIOTROP’s DDA, Dr Zulham is also currently serving as the executive secretary of the Graduate Study Program on Management of Coastal and Marine Resources and a lecturer at the Department of Water Resources Management of IPB. He is also a member of the Coastal Experts Society, Japan Fisheries Society and the Society for Coastal Ecosystem Study-Asia Pacific.