| name = Irene
| name = Irene
| image = File:Irene, Deputy Ambassador of Indonesia to China.jpg
| image = File:Irene, Deputy Ambassador of Indonesia to China.jpg
| caption = Irene, Deputy Ambassador of Indonesia to China
| caption = Irene
| office = Deputy Ambassador of Indonesia to China
| office = Deputy Ambassador of Indonesia to China
| term_start = 8 October 2025
| term_start = 8 October 2025
Irene (born 13 July 1985) is an Indonesian physician, socialite, politician, and diplomat who is Indonesia’s deputy ambassador to China since 2025.
Early life and education
[edit]
Irene was born in Jayapura on 13 July 1985. She has had an interest in fauna and the preservation of her homeland’s biodiversity since her adolescence. Her passion was sparked by her mother, a member of the Papua People’s Representative Council,[1] and her uncle, the director of Faunaland, a mini zoo and conservation-focused theme park located in the Ecopark area of Ancol. She studied medicine at the University of Indonesia.[2][3] She later pursued her master’s degree in defense diplomacy at the Indonesian Defense University, graduating in 2024 after two years of study.[4]
Career and social life
[edit]
Irene served as commissioner of Faunaland. Under her management, she designed Faunaland to serve as an educational platform for children, highlighting the country’s ecosystem and promoting conservation, incorporating animal species from Indonesia and abroad, such as the Wallaby kangaroo and the white lion from South Africa. Irene also added to Faunaland cultural references to Papua, including a wooden bridge carved by the Asmat tribe, an entrance shaped like a cassowary bird, and enclosures with thatched roofs resembling Honai houses in Wamena. She also plans to open a clinic in Papua.[2]
Irene was a socialite and a member of the Girls Squad, an association that included celebrities like Jessica Iskandar, Nia Ramadhani, and Jennifer Bachdim. She was also the sole Indonesian invited to attend the wedding reception of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, the son of Asia’s wealthiest man Mukesh Ambani, where she wore a kebaya designed by Anaz Khairunnas.[3]
Irene has maintained connections with Prabowo Subianto, then-chairman of the Gerindra Party, since late 2012 through her mother.[1] In the 2019 Indonesian general election, Irene ran as a candidate for the House of Representatives from the Gerindra Party, representing the Papua electoral district.[5] She received 6,573 votes in the election and did not pass for a seat in the house.[6] In the next 2024 Indonesian general election, Irene joined Fanta, the youth wing of Prabowo Subianto’s presidential campaign team as deputy chair.[7] He also ran again from the same party for the House of Representatives, this time representing the newly established electoral district of South Papua.[3] Although she received the most votes—14,724 votes—from all Gerindra legislative candidates in the electoral district, the party failed to pass the minimum vote threshold for a seat in the province.[8]
On 8 October 2025, Irene was installed as the deputy ambassador to China by President Prabowo Subianto.[9] Irene, who was the first deputy ambassador to be installed directly by the president, was planned to be posted in Chengdu.[10] Foreign Minister Sugiono explained the appointment was crucial due to China’s vast size and heavy workload, noting that Indonesia plans to open a new consulate general in Chengdu. Sugiono’s deputy, Arrmanatha Nasir, stated that Irene was given a special assignment by the President as deputy ambassador.[9] International relations expert Ardhitya Eduard Yeremia Lalisang argued that Irene’s role is more suited to be referred to as a presidential special staffer rather than a deputy ambassador and that Indonesia must clearly explain this appointment to other partner countries to avoid misinterpretation, especially amid tensions between United States and China.[11]
- ^ a b Saputra, Eka Yudha (9 October 2025). “Siapa Irene, Wakil Dubes RI untuk Cina yang Baru Dilantik Prabowo”. Tempo. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ a b “Irene, Dedikasi Sang Dokter Muda” [Irene, Dedication of the Young Doctor]. Men’s Obsession (in Indonesian). 22 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ a b c Redaksi (5 July 2024). “Profil dr Irene, Satu-satunya Orang Indonesia yang Hadir di Pernikahan Keluarga Ambani” [Profile of Dr Irene, the Only Indonesian Attending the Ambani Family Wedding]. BeritaSatu (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ “Biodata Mahasiswa”. PDDikti. Retrieved 10 September 2025.
- ^ Rizky, Fahreza (13 December 2023). “Caleg Cantik dr Irene Berjuang untuk Papua” [Beautiful Legislative Candidate Dr Irene Fights for Papua]. iNews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ “Data Rekapitulasi Hasil Penghitungan Perolehan Suara Calon Anggota DPR RI Pemilu 2019 Daerah Pemilihan Papua”. Opendata KPU. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ Farih, Fitria Chusna (6 November 2023). “Daftar Lengkap Tim Kampanye Nasional Prabowo-Gibran, Ada Reza Arap” [Complete List of Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team, Includes Reza Arap]. Detik (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ “HITUNG SUARA PEMILIHAN UMUM DEWAN PERWAKILAN RAKYAT REPUBLIK INDONESIA TAHUN 2024 DAERAH PEMILIHAN PAPUA SELATAN I”. Lezen. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ a b Redaksi (7 October 2025). “Sugiono soal Prabowo Lantik Wakil Dubes China: Negara Besar Banyak Beban Kerja” [Sugiono on Prabowo Appointing Deputy Ambassador to China: Big Countries Have Heavy Workloads]. Kumparan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 8 October 2025.
- ^ Hadi, Fadjar (9 October 2025). “Irene Bicara Penugasan Usai Resmi Dilantik Prabowo jadi Wakil Dubes RI di China” [Irene Talks About Assignment After Officially Being Appointed Deputy Indonesian Ambassador to China by Prabowo]. kumparan.com. kumparanNEWS. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ Yaputra, Hendrik; Saputra, Eka Yudha (9 October 2025). “Dosen HI UI: Indonesia Perlu Jelaskan ke Negara Mitra soal Wakil Duta Besar untuk Cina” [UI IR Lecturer: Indonesia Needs to Explain Deputy Ambassador for China to Partner Countries]. Tempo. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
