We are proud to share that Dr. Anna Christi Suwardi, Circle Initiator at DEEP EnGender, was selected to participate in the American Political Science Association (APSA) Publishing Workshop for Southeast Asian Politics, held on July 31st, 2023, at Singapore Management University (SMU). In conjunction with this prestigious workshop, Dr. Suwardi was also invited to attend the SEAREG 2023 Summer Conference on August 1–2, further contributing to regional scholarly exchange.

The APSA Publishing Workshop was designed to strengthen research and publication efforts in the field of Southeast Asian politics. A total of 22 selected participants engaged in interactive sessions, research presentations, and career-focused discussions—including fieldwork navigation, mentorship, and network building.

Dr. Suwardi presented her ongoing research on the development of women’s organizations in multicultural societies as agents of peacebuilding. Her work highlights the role of inclusive, community-driven movements in fostering long-term social transformation, drawing from both political science and peace studies perspectives.

The workshop was facilitated by a distinguished panel of scholars: Walid Jumblatt Abdullah (Nanyang Technological University), Yuko Kasuya (Keio University), Nathanael Sumaktoyo (National University of Singapore), and Risa Toha (Wake Forest University)—all of whom provided guidance on advancing regional scholarship for global publication.

Dr. Suwardi’s participation reflects DEEP En-Gender’s commitment to supporting feminist leadership and peacebuilding scholarship in Southeast Asia. We celebrate her achievements and look forward to the impact of her work in shaping more inclusive activist networks across the region.

We are proud to announce that our Circle Initiator, Dr. Anna Christi Suwardi, was awarded a 2023 research fellowship under the Cultivating Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) initiative, a program of the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) funded by the Government of Sweden. This prestigious fellowship supports scholars across Asia whose research engages with inclusive, interdisciplinary approaches in the humanities and social sciences.

As part of her fellowship activities, Dr. Suwardi presented her research titled “Empowering Malay-Muslim Women in Thailand’s Deep South During Conflict: A Look at Individual and Relational Level” at the AAS Symposium held at Ewha Womans University, Seoul, from June 21–22, 2023. The symposium, under the theme “Mainstreaming the Margins,” brought together international scholars whose work critically engages with underrepresented voices in the field of Asian studies.

Dr. Suwardi participated in the panel on Critical Perspectives on Conflict, Inclusion, and (In)security, where she joined fellow researchers in unpacking the intersections of identity, peacebuilding, and lived experience within conflict-affected societies. Her presentation offered valuable insight into the agency of women navigating violence in Southern Thailand, and underscored the importance of examining empowerment at both individual and relational levels.

Her participation in the symposium marks an important step in the dissemination of her research on gender, conflict, and peacebuilding, and aligns with DEEP EnGender’s mission to elevate feminist and inclusive scholarship in Southeast Asia.

We extend our warm congratulations to Dr. Suwardi and express our gratitude to the Association for Asian Studies and the CHSS initiative for recognizing her work.

DEEP EnGender is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievement of our Circle Initiator, Dr. Anna Christi Suwardi, who was selected as a 2023 Asia Peace Innovator Fellow—a distinguished honor awarded through the Asia Peace Innovators Forum, a program of the Salzburg Global Seminar in partnership with The Nippon Foundation.

The fellowship spanned six months, combining a dynamic blend of online engagement and an intensive in-person gathering, culminating in a transformative five-day residency from June 14–18, 2023, at the historic Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg, Austria. This iconic venue, home of the Salzburg Global Seminar, welcomed over 50 fellows from Asia and Africa, who came together to foster creative collaborations and cross-sector dialogues for peacebuilding in their communities.

During the forum, Dr. Suwardi actively participated in peer learning, network-building, and strategic design labs, contributing her expertise on inclusive peacebuilding and feminist approaches to social transformation. One of the exciting outcomes of her fellowship experience is a collaborative book project that brings together scholars and practitioners across Asia and Africa to explore women and youth-led peacebuilding efforts.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Suwardi for her inspiring leadership and for representing DEEP EnGender on this global platform. We also express sincere appreciation to the Salzburg Global Seminar and The Nippon Foundation (日本財団) for recognizing her contributions and providing this meaningful space for peace innovators to connect, collaborate, and catalyze change.