Hadi Yoga Dewanto

Hadi Yoga Dewanto (Yoga) is a PhD candidate at the School of Biological, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, and Ocean Account Fellow at the Centre of Sustainable Development Reform, Faculty of Law and Justice, UNSW Sydney. He specialises in ocean governance accounting frameworks and marine policy analysis. His research develops systematic methodologies for measuring and integrating governance dimensions into ocean accounting systems, combining spatial analysis, institutional assessment, and environmental-economic accounting.

Yoga's research contributions span peer-reviewed publications in Marine Policy and Coastal Management, policy documents including Indonesia's Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan 2025-2045, and technical reports for international organisations. As a United Nations-Nippon Foundation Fellow (2022), he conducted research on area-based management tools and marine protected area networks at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security at the University of Wollongong. His applied research experience includes implementing Indonesia's ocean accounting pilot study (2020-2021), formulating marine spatial planning and MPA network assessments, and synthesising scientific evidence for national reports to the Convention on Biological Diversity and CITES.

Drawing on over a decade of research and policy analysis in Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Yoga has demonstrated capacity in mixed-methods research, spatial data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and translating complex scientific findings into actionable policy recommendations. He holds a Master of Environmental Science from the University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Marine Science from Diponegoro University, Indonesia.

Supervised by: Dr Ben Milligan & Dr. Mitchell Lyons

Project Title: Addressing the Governance Information Gap in Ocean Accounting

Project Description: My research develops a comprehensive governance accounting framework as an integral component of ocean accounting systems. Current ocean accounting frameworks systematically measure ocean assets, ecosystem services, and economic benefits, but lack standardised approaches to account for governance arrangements—the rules, institutions, and decision-making processes that determine how ocean spaces are managed and protected. It creates a critical information gap in contemporary ocean management.

Throughout my research, I will develop a standardised framework for governance accounting, creating indicators and metrics to measure ocean governance, integrating governance accounts with other ocean accounting dimensions, and identifying enabling institutional arrangements and mechanisms to implement governance accounting.