The Asia Foundation

Expertise: Islam and Development; Islam in Indonesia; Politics in Indonesia; Islam and democracy; and Islam and women.

Robin Bush is The Asia Foundation's Country Representative in Indonesia where she manages an international and national staff of over 60 and a grants and technical assistance portfolio of over $50 million. Dr. Bush directs the Foundation's extensive governance, civil society, democracy, economic and business policy reform programs in Indonesia. The Asia Foundation is the largest private non-profit international organization supporting governance and economic reform in Indonesia.

Prior to becoming the Country Representative in 2008, Dr. Bush was the Foundation's Deputy Country Representative in Indonesia. Prior to that, Dr. Bush was the Regional Director for Islam and Development, responsible for assisting Foundation offices Asia-wide in developing Islam-related programs. These programs include civil society, education, and anti-poverty programs implemented in collaboration with Muslim organizations. Dr. Bush has been with the Foundation since 1998, when she joined its Indonesia office as a Program Officer for the Islam and Civil Society program.

She is the author of the book Nahdlatul Ulama and the Struggle for Power within Islam and Politics in Indonesia, recently published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies press. She is also the author of numerous articles on politics and Islam in Indonesia. Dr. Bush has lived in Indonesia for over 20 years.

Education: PhD in political science from the University of Washington and an MA in International Studies from Ohio University.