Dr Hilman Palaon

Research Fellow, Indo-Pacific Development Centre
Areas of expertise

Digitalisation, digital economy, economic development and empowerment, innovation and technology, social welfare

Dr Hilman Palaon
Biography
Publications
News and media

Dr Hilman Palaon is a Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute in the Indo-Pacific Development Centre. His work focuses on digital economy issues in the Indo-Pacific region. Hilman has extensive experience in government, development, engineering, fintech, digital platform, audit and consulting, and academia. He has previously worked for Ernst & Young, USAID, TNP2K (the Indonesian Government's National Team for the Acceleration of Poverty Reduction), Gojek/GOTO, and the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance at the University of Cambridge. He has also worked as a consultant/adviser for the Asian Development Bank, MoneyGram, Eachmile Technologies, Novus Technologies, and Protiviti.

Hilman holds a PhD in Management Science from the Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia. He studied in Germany and Spain for his postgraduate degrees: Process Engineering and Energy Technology at the University of Applied Sciences Bremerhaven, Global Management at the University of Applied Sciences Bremen, and International Marketing at the University of Valencia. His undergraduate degree is in Electrical Engineering from the University of Indonesia. His research interests are the digital economy, economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and technology innovation.

A critical mineral match for Australia and Indonesia
A critical mineral match for Australia and Indonesia
Downstreaming diplomacy and shared interests to secure the global supply of nickel and lithium should be the focus for Anthony Albanese’s trip to Jakarta.
Indonesia’s EV gamble: Green on the surface, dirty underneath
Indonesia’s EV gamble: Green on the surface, dirty underneath
Efforts to capitalise on nickel dominance has carried an environmental cost.
The future of Indonesia’s green industrial policy
Analyses
The future of Indonesia’s green industrial policy
Despite an early lead in EV and battery supply chains, Indonesia must opt for a more sustainable and open growth model to remain competitive.
China may have already won the global race
Commentary
China may have already won the global race
Originally published in Nikkei Asia
Nice try, Apple, but Indonesia wants a restart
Nice try, Apple, but Indonesia wants a restart
The tech giant’s US$1 billion investment won’t be enough to lift the ban in Indonesia.
Indonesia: The downstreaming dilemma
Indonesia: The downstreaming dilemma
The nickel boom in Southeast Sulawesi is a paradox – reshaping the region while sidelining locals.
What I’ll be watching for in 2025
What I’ll be watching for in 2025
Lowy researchers gaze at their crystal balls – with questions, more than answers, for the year ahead.
A digital makeover for the New Colombo Plan will boost Australia’s soft power
A digital makeover for the New Colombo Plan will boost Australia’s soft power
Cutting-edge technological tools and youthful enthusiasm. Take the win.
Indonesia takes a bite out of Apple, and sets itself a test for future investment
Indonesia takes a bite out of Apple, and sets itself a test for future investment
The Local Content Requirement may only be a temporary setback for the tech giant, but it could raise concerns among potential foreign investors.
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