About Us

Leadership

Meet the scholars, practitioners, and advisors who drive CGSS Asia’s independent, evidence-based policy work.

A polished, high-resolution terrestrial globe focused tightly on Asia and the Indo-Pacific, with coastlines and island chains rendered in crisp detail and subtle topographic relief. The globe sits on a minimalist brushed-steel stand atop a matte white desk, beside an open, blank legal pad and a thin, closed laptop. Cool natural light from the side creates a soft gradient across the globe’s surface, emphasizing ridges and ocean depths while casting a calm shadow behind. Shot at eye level with shallow depth of field, the background fades into a gentle blur of neutral tones. The atmosphere is thoughtful and strategic, with photographic realism and a professional, policy-focused mood.

A large, meticulously detailed nautical chart of the Indo-Pacific region spread across a smooth, dark wooden conference table, with clearly marked sea lanes, exclusive economic zones, and archipelagic boundaries in muted blues and soft grays. Metal dividers, a navy-blue notebook, and a sleek silver pen rest neatly along the map’s edge. Soft, diffused daylight from an unseen window washes over the scene, creating gentle highlights on the glossy paper and subtle shadows along the tools. Captured from a slightly elevated angle with sharp focus throughout, the mood is analytical and professional. Photographic realism with a clean, modern aesthetic underscores themes of maritime governance and strategic research.

About CGSS Asia Research Institute

CGSS Asia is an independent policy institute advancing rigorous, evidence-based analysis on maritime governance, regional security, and socio-political change across Asia, with a special focus on Indonesia’s role in shaping an inclusive, rules-based Indo-Pacific order.

Our People

A close-up, overhead photographic composition of a modern research workspace: a slim, silver laptop displaying a simplified, monochrome map of the Indo-Pacific coastline, surrounded by neatly arranged printed charts, highlighted briefing notes, and a compact digital recorder. A matte-black fountain pen rests diagonally across a document labeled “Maritime Governance Framework” in small, sharp text. Soft morning light from the upper left creates gentle shadows and faint reflections on the laptop trackpad, adding depth without clutter. The background is a neutral, textured gray desktop that keeps focus on the analytical tools. The mood is focused, disciplined, and evidence-based, with a clean, contemporary aesthetic aligned to professional policy research.

Aarav Sharma

CEO

Leads regional security programs, bridging academic research and policy communities across the Indo-Pacific, debates globally.

An elegant, large-format wall map of Southeast Asia and Indonesia printed on matte archival paper in deep navy, slate gray, and soft white tones, mounted in a thin black metal frame on a smooth concrete wall. Below it, a minimalist floating shelf holds neatly stacked policy reports with color-coded spines, and a single small, geometric metal sculpture suggesting interconnected nodes. Overhead, indirect LED lighting casts a uniform, cool glow, eliminating harsh shadows and emphasizing crisp cartographic detail. Captured straight-on with symmetrical framing and sharp focus, the image exudes clarity, rigor, and institutional professionalism in a photographic realism style suited to a research institute’s office.

Mateo García

CTO

Specializes in maritime governance and blue economy, advising governments on sustainable, rules-based regional cooperation.

A wide, photographic view of a major Indo-Pacific shipping lane at dusk, seen from a high, abstract vantage point that excludes any vessels yet clearly shows illuminated sea buoys and navigational markers forming distinct pathways across deep blue water. Thin dotted lines and semi-transparent overlays of white and cyan indicate maritime borders and traffic corridors, subtly integrated into the photograph. The sky glows with the last cool light of day, reflecting as soft streaks on the water’s surface. The composition uses the rule of thirds, with converging lines leading toward a distant horizon. The mood is calm yet analytical, conveying strategic complexity through a clean, modern documentary style.

Zuri Ndlovu

Engineer

Researches Indonesian domestic politics, democratic resilience, and social change shaping Asia’s evolving strategic landscape.

A dramatic, long-lens photographic view of a narrow strait framed only by natural elements: steep, dark green headlands on either side and a deep, steel-blue sea channel running between them, subtly overlaid with semi-transparent vector arrows indicating strategic chokepoints and shipping directions. The sky is overcast, providing soft, diffused light that flattens harsh contrasts and enhances the seriousness of the scene. Shot from a distant elevated vantage, the composition emphasizes the constrained passage, with the channel centered and converging toward the background. The mood is sober and analytical, highlighting regional security and maritime strategy through realistic imagery with understated data visualization.

Leila Haddad

Designer

Provides strategic counsel to CGSS Asia, drawing on decades of diplomatic, defense, and academic experience.

Contact CGSS

For institutional partnerships, media interviews, or research collaborations, please reach out to our Jakarta-based team via email or phone.

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