Dr Natali Pearson, Senior Lecturer in Heritage Studies and ARC DECRA Fellow in the School of Humanities, represented the University of Sydney at the #AussieBanget University Roadshow held at UIN Sunan Ampel Surabaya (UINSA) on 28 April 2026, contributing to public diplomacy efforts that highlight education, research collaboration and shared maritime heritage between Australia and Indonesia. 

The engagement aligns with the University of Sydney’s strong institutional commitment to Southeast Asia, including through the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, which supports interdisciplinary research and outreach across the region.  

The roadshow, organised by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and supported by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta and the Australian Consulate‑General in Surabaya, brought together Indonesian students, academics and policymakers to explore opportunities for study in Australia and strengthen people‑to‑people links through the Australia Awards program.

As part of the program, Dr Pearson delivered a public lecture and participated in a panel discussion titled Protecting Oceans, Preserving Underwater Cultural Heritage: Australia–Indonesia Collaboration for Sustainable Tourism and the Blue Economy. Participants included Indonesian marine science researchers from UINSA and representatives from Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, reflecting growing interest in interdisciplinary and cross‑sector approaches to ocean governance in Indonesia.

In her lecture, Dr Pearson explored the tensions between extractive approaches to shipwrecks, including commercial salvage and commodification, and community‑based tourism models that position underwater cultural heritage as a long‑term social, cultural and economic asset.

Panel discussions highlighted submerged heritage as an emerging policy concern within Indonesia’s blue economy agenda, particularly as the country balances sustainable development, marine protection and coastal livelihoods.

“Shipwrecks sit at the intersection of history, environmental risk, coastal communities and international diplomacy,” Dr Pearson said. “They’re not just about the past – they invite us to imagine what our shared futures might look like, and who has a say in their creation.”

Dr Pearson’s participation formed part of her ARC‑funded DECRA Fellowship, Sunken Warships: Heritage Diplomacy in Maritime Southeast Asia, which examines World War II shipwrecks across the region. Southeast Asian waters contain an estimated 2,000 sunken warships, many of which still hold oil, unexploded ordnance and human remains. These sites face ongoing threats from illicit salvage and unregulated disturbance, presenting both challenges and opportunities for flag and coastal States.

Reflecting on the regional context of her work, Dr Pearson pointed to Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 by Nicholas Moore which emphasised that long‑term investment in Southeast Asia capability is essential if Australia is to engage meaningfully at scale.

“My research on World War II shipwrecks demands multidisciplinary approaches grounded in cultural competence and community-centred research,” Dr Pearson said. “As blue economy agendas accelerate across the region, collaborative partnerships based on trust and sustained engagement are more important than ever.”

While in Indonesia, Dr Pearson also continued research engagement linked to her formal collaboration with Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) and held discussions with BRIN researchers on future cooperation in maritime heritage research. Such collaborations align with SSEAC’s emphasis on long‑term, regionally grounded research partnerships.

In addition to the panel, Dr Pearson was featured in an episode of G’day Indonesia, a public diplomacy initiative of the Australian Consulate‑General in Surabaya. Conducted entirely in Indonesian, the interview explored her long‑standing engagement with Indonesia, her research on shared maritime histories, and the role of cultural and educational exchange in strengthening bilateral ties. A highlights reel will be released via the Consulate‑General’s Instagram channel later this year.

Dr Pearson is also President of the Indonesia Council, the national peak body for Indonesian studies in Australia and a sub‑regional council of the Asian Studies Association of Australia. Initiatives such as #AussieBanget complement the University of Sydney’s recent announcement of new scholarships for Indonesian students, reinforcing education as a cornerstone of Australia–Indonesia relations.

Later this year, Dr Pearson will return to Indonesia to conduct fieldwork with coastal communities living with WWII shipwrecks in their waters, and to chair sessions at a major international conference in Bali on maritime heritage and Blue Economies in the Asia‑Pacific. Her sessions will focus on the governance of World War II shipwrecks and their place within emerging blue economy frameworks, examining why historical responsibility and community-led research must be central to such initiatives.