Prof. Dr. Ali Wardhana was a trusted expert on the Indonesian economy who had been appointed to lead several important positions in the government. Ali Wardhana finished his Bachelor degree at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (1958). He continued his study at the University of California at Berkeley and obtained a Master of Arts degree in 1961. In 1962, he successfully completed his doctoral degree and earned his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley. Upon arrival in Indonesia, he became the Director of the Institute for Economic and Social Research, Faculty of Economics and Business University of Indonesia (LPEM FEBUI) and had served as the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business over the next two periods.
While serving as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia for ten years (1967-1978), Ali Wardhana was also a member of the economic advisory board in the New Order regime and served as Minister of Finance for fifteen years (1968-1983). His expertise in the field of economics has been widely recognized by the international community. He was elected as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (1971-1972). He also served as Coordinating Minister of Economy, Industry and Development Supervision for five years (1983-1988).