Associate Professor Minako Sakai
PhD, Anthropology, The Australian National University
Associate Professor Minako Sakai is Deputy Head of School (Research) at UNSW Canberra’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences. She leads the Asia-Pacific Development (APD) Research Group, one of UNSW’s Top 100 Research Strengths.
Her research focuses on gender empowerment, Islamic finance, and social enterprise development in Indonesia and the wider Indo-Pacific region. A trilingual anthropologist, she examines how faith-based organisations, social enterprises, and civic networks promote inclusive development and strengthen community resilience. She identifies local knowledge and values as enablers for development, demonstrating how cultural knowledge underpins effective and sustainable community initiatives.
Societal Impact Highlights
Drawing on over two decades of fieldwork in Indonesia, her research provides authoritative insights into gender empowerment, Islamic finance, and social enterprise development as pathways for equitable growth and social resilience. Her work informs government and NGO debates on inclusive development and faith-based welfare policy. She also contributes comparative perspectives on public trust and social licence in the Indo-Pacific and is developing new research collaborations during her study leave in S.1 2026.
Her international collaborations include research and visiting fellowships with Keio University, Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Universitas Islam Negeri Jakarta (UIN Jakarta), Cornell University, the National University of Singapore (NUS), and the Australian National University (ANU), reflecting her long-term engagement with prominent academic and policy networks across the Indo-Pacific.
She takes particular joy in mentoring Honours and undergraduate students, fostering critical inquiry and independent research skills that prepare them for graduate study and global engagement.
Recognition of Leadership and Impact
She has received multiple national and international honours, including the 2023 UNSW Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research Supervision, the 2024 DFAT Australia-Indonesia Institute Award, the 2024 UNSW Canberra Dorothy Green Award, and the Indonesian Government’s 2023 Culture Award — a distinction regarded as the country’s equivalent of the Order of Australia, recognising her exceptional contribution to advancing cross-cultural understanding and academic collaboration.
Her leadership in postgraduate supervision has produced internationally recognised scholars who now contribute to gender and development policy, higher education, and community initiatives across Southeast Asia. Originally from Japan, she speaks Indonesian fluently.
- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
Recent Research Grants and International Engagements:
- Security and Defence Plus Grant on Evolution and the Impact of Public Opinion on Nuclear Policies in the Indo-Pacific in partnership with Arizona State University ($15,600)
- Keio University, Japan, Global Fellowship (2025-2027 $10,000) Disaster and Community Resilience in the Indo-Pacific
- Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation, Research Grant, Islamic Social Engagement and Innovation in Indonesia in partnership with the Dompet Dhuafa Foundation, Jakarta ($60,000, 2024-2026)
- UNSW Women's Wellbeing Academy Small Grant, Building Back Better: Piloting post-Covid 19 disaster recovery initiatives for gender empowerment (2020) with Felix Tan and Nelia Hyndman-Rizk
- The Ford Foundation, Indonesia (2018-2020, Muslim Women's Economic Empowerment USD 200,000) in partnership with UIN Jakarta.
- Australia-ASEAN Council Grant, ‘Fostering Women’s Empowerment through Digital Entrepreneurship’ with Felix Tan, Carmen Leong, Minako Sakai, Wing Wah Tham (2019-2020)
- UNSW Indonesia Collaborative Research Scheme (2017 $10,000)
- University of Gadjah Mada, Department of Sociology, FISIP, International Collaborator on Islamic Social Entrepreneurship (2016)
- UNSW Faculty Research Silver Start Grant (Islamic Conservatism and Women in Indonesian Economy, 2015-2016, $20,000)
- The ANU AusAID Indonesian Project Research Grant (with Dr P.Ismalina, UGM). Project title: Building Community Resilience after the Merapi Volcano Disaster, A Case study of State and Private Scheme for Economic Livelihood Recovery Initiatives in Central Java (2013-2014, $15,000.)
- UNSW Canberra Research Training Scholarship Scheme (to recruit an excellent PhD student under her supervision (with D. Lovell as a co-supervisor). 3-year scholarship with full fees and tuition Project title: The Role of Civil society in Social Development in Contemporary Indonesia (2014-2016, $213,000).
- UNSW Canberra Special Research Grant, The Role of Civil Society in Enhancing Resilience in the Tohoku Disaster, Japan (2013-2014, $5,630)
- The Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, academy workshop grant ($7,500, 2010-2011) with Prof. Peter Saunders (SPRC, UNSW)
- Faith and Social Development in Contemporary Indonesia, Special Research Grant, UNSW, ($10,000, 2010-2011)
- Civil Society Responses to Social Inequality and Natural Disasters in Japan after the 1990s, HASS Research Grant ($5,000, 2011)
- Rector-funded Visiting Fellowship for Dr Amelia Fauzia from the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, Jakarta, Indonesia (2011)
- Capacity Building for the Islamic Microfinance Providers for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises in Indonesia with Prof. Kacung Marijan, Australia Indonesia Governance Research Partnership ($60,000, 2008-2009)
- Creating a New Indonesia: Region and Religion as Agents of Change, Faculty Research Grant (Silver Star Grant), UNSW ($20,000, 2008-2009)
Research Overview
My early research examined the impact of Islamisation on ethnic identity among Malay-speaking Gumay communities in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The resulting ethnography, Kacang Tak Lupa Kulitnya: Identitas Gumay, Islam, dan Merantau di Sumatra Selatan (The Nut Cannot Forget Its Shell), was published by Obor, returning knowledge to Indonesia.
I later explored the Islamisation of Indonesia’s middle class, focusing on Islamic microfinance, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. My second book, Penggiat Bisnis Syariah di Indonesia: Muslimah, Kewirausahaan dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (Indonesian Syariah Business Activists: Muslim Women, Entrepreneurship and Community Empowerment), was published by Dompet Dhuafa, Jakarta.
My third book, Women Entrepreneurs and Business Empowerment in Muslim Countries (2022, Palgrave Macmillan, with Professor Amelia Fauzia), analyses how evolving interpretations of Islam have enabled women to play leading roles in the economy, reshaping gender relations in comparative perspective.
I have also published widely on religion, gender, community empowerment, and local development policy in Indonesia.
Current Research
My current research contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through locally grounded approaches that promote equitable and inclusive development in the Indo-Pacific region. Key projects include:
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Financially Sustainable Social Innovation Beyond Philanthropy
In partnership with the Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation, Jakarta, this project investigates social enterprise and community-based innovation as sustainable models for poverty reduction, social protection, and resilience. -
Equitable Development in the Asia-Pacific
This research examines how inclusive economic and social policies can strengthen community participation and regional collaboration, advancing just and sustainable growth across the Indo-Pacific.
These projects complement my broader work on Islam, gender and development, disaster and community resilience, social innovation, and public trust frameworks, advancing equitable and ethical development pathways across the region.
Keynote and Invited Speaker Engagements – 2025
The 3rd International Conference on Cultures and Languages (ICCL): “Innovating Knowledge through Language and Culture – Interdisciplinary Pathways for Global Understanding”
Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Raden Mas Said Surakarta (UIN Solo) – 3 September 2025 (funded)
Ethnic and Cultural Entrepreneurship: Navigating Culture and Creative Economy for Sustainable Development
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Andalas, Padang – 28 July 2025 (funded)
UI Dialektika: Exploring Research Collaboration Opportunities in Islamic Social Finance
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Indonesia – 24 July 2025
Launching of the UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta Ethics Committee: “Research Ethics for Humanities and Social Science”
Institute for Research and Community Empowerment (LP2M), UIN Jakarta – 18 July 2025
Fostering Social Enterprises in the Global South: Identifying Drivers and Socio-Political Contexts
13th ISTR Asia-Pacific Regional Conference – “Civil Society’s Role in Sustainability: Social, Economic Development, and the Environment,” University of the Philippines, Cebu – 23–25 April 2025 (funded)
2024
Plenary Address: Religion and Development
Annual Conference, Association of Indonesian Sociology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta – 15 November (funded)
Community Development: Promoting Inclusiveness in Development Practices
5th International Conference on Global Development (ICODEV), Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Surabaya – 16 November (fully funded)
Gender Inclusion and Equality in Indonesia
2nd Character and Diversity Conference – “Building Up Noble Character on Humanity and Diversity,” Faculty of Social Sciences, Brawijaya University, Malang – 6 November (fully funded)
Integrating Climate Change and Sustainable Practices in Economics, Finance and Management
University of Malikussaleh, Aceh – 23 September (online)
Identifying Drivers and Socio-Political Contexts to Foster Social Enterprises in the Global South: Challenges and Opportunities
Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Andalas, Padang – 23 July
Roundtable Discussant: Minangkabau Entrepreneurship – Aligning Academia and Society for the Future of Minangkabau Entrepreneurship and Cross-Cultural Understanding
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Andalas, Padang – 22 July (fully funded)
2023
Does Religion Still Matter?
International Conference on Interreligious Studies, Sciences and Technology, LP2M, State Islamic University, Jakarta – 6–8 November
Building Back Better: Disaster Recoveries and Embeddedness in Indonesia and Japan
Disaster Management Conference, Graduate School, Universitas Andalas, Padang – 3 November
Development and Women Entrepreneurship
2nd International Conference on Gender, Culture and Society (ICGCS), Universitas Andalas, Padang – 24–25 October
National Seminar on Islamic Finance and Syariah Financial Institutions
Faculty of Economics and Business, State Islamic University, Jakarta – 8 September
Public Lecture
Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Andalas, Padang
2022
Leaders’ Insight Series 3: Recent Issues in Women’s Economic Empowerment
Dompet Dhuafa, Jakarta – 5 September
International Public Discussion: Overview of Women’s Economic Empowerment
Faculty of Economics and Business, UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta – 31 August
Keynote: Transformation in Times of Crisis
7th International Conference on Social and Political Sciences (ICOSAPS), Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta – 5 August
Keynote: Integrated Models of Science and Religion in the Contemporary Muslim World
State Islamic University, Jember – 18 May
Strategic Talk Series 3 Webinar: Women’s Economic Empowerment in Muslim Countries – An Indonesian Case
Hosted by the Embassy of Indonesia, Canberra – 26 April
2021
Plenary Webinar: Optimising Islamic Social Entrepreneurship for the Islamic Social Finance and Commercial Sector
Co-hosted by UIN Jakarta and Ikatan Ahli Ekonomi Islam (IAEI) – 8 November
Muslim Women’s Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship – Challenges Arising from the Pandemic
International Conference: Pandemic of Humanity, Memory, Creativity and Solidarity, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, State Islamic University, Jakarta – 13 August
UNSW Women’s Wellbeing Academy Small Grant Presentations
UNSW Sydney – 11 March
2020
Baitul Maal wat Tamwil (BMTs) Roles and Opportunities for Improving the Welfare of Micro-Businesses
Annual Convention of the Association of Islamic Savings and Credit Cooperatives (BMTs), Indonesia – 19 November
COVID-19 and Gender Issues: Experiences from Different Countries
FISIP International Seminar, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta – 11 November
Islamisation of the Highlands of South Sumatra: The Gumay Community
2nd International Seminar on Adab and Humanities (ISAH), Faculty of Adab and Humaniora, State Islamic University, Palembang – 12 November
Community Development: Entrepreneurship and Self-Study Practices
8th International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta – 4–5 November (online)
Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Investing
ASEAN Conference, UNSW Sydney – 10 October (online)
Theory and Praxis Anthropology: Social and Religious Research Development
Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Gadjah Mada University – 7 September (online)
Gender Perspective in Disaster Resilience of COVID-19
Gender and Development, Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember – 3 June (online)
2019
Religion, Development and Women’s Empowerment Workshop
Graduate School, State Islamic University, Yogyakarta – 5 September
2018
1st International Conference on Multidisciplinary Approaches for Sustainable Rural Development (ICMA-SURE)
Jenderal Sudirman University, Purwokerto – November
3rd International Conference on University-Community Engagement (ICON-UCE)
Organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, hosted by State Islamic University Malang – October
Public Lecture: Women, Community Development and Entrepreneurship in Indonesia
Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Solo – October
Reflection on Islamic Studies: Development and Empowerment in Indonesia – Opportunities, Recent Developments and Challenges
State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) Solo – October
Plenary Panel: Fostering Community Resilience by Connectivity between Victims and Supporters in Post-Disaster Areas in the Asia-Pacific Region
APRU 14th Multi-Hazards Symposium, Research School of Earth Sciences, ANU – October
International Conference on Culture and Language in Southeast Asia (ICCLAS): Contemporary Intercultural Relations Between Islam in Southeast Asia and the Middle East
State Islamic University, Jakarta – August
2017
Plenary Address: Utilisation of Social, Cultural, and Art Assets to Improve the Quality of Life
5th International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation (ICERI), Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta – October
Plenary Keynote: Community Empowerment, Institutional Transformation and Sustainable Economy
International Conference on Religion, Microfinance and Community Empowerment (ICOFIN), Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta and Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka – July
Research Collaborations and Sponsoring Visiting Fellows
I am currently hosting the following UNSW Visiting Fellows, who are conducting joint research with me focusing on socio-economic development and policy in the Asia-Pacific region:
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Professor Amelia Fauzia – State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta
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Associate Professor Patrick Kilby – Australian National University
Past Research Collaborators
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Dr Rafisah Mat Radzi – Universiti Sains Malaysia
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Associate Professor Stephen Sherlock – Independent Researcher (Australia)
I have built strong ties with Indonesia through my research and teaching. My research collaborative partnerships include partners from the State Islamic University Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, The University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University and the Airlangga University. I have been contributing the direction of Islamic studies by offering anthropological perspectives of Islamic studies. As such I am serving on the editorial board for the Asia Pacific Anthropology and Studia Islamika.
Recent Media Coverage
Sep 2024 For some Asian women who earn more than their partners, they're viewed as 'inappropriate' and 'disrespectful' (ABC)
Sep 2022 Using Indonesian examples for Muslim women's gender empowerment
Professional Activities
I serve as an expert on the following international journals in the field of Islamic Studies, Social Sciences and Islamic Finance.
- International Journal of Islamic Microfinance (IJIMF) e-ISSN 2827-7872, under the Bank of Indonesia and the BMT Institute, Indonesia.
- Insaniyat: Journal of Islam and Humanities
- Studia Islamika ISSN 0215-0492; E-ISSN: 2355-6145.
Advisory Role for Civil Society Organisations
- The Dompet Dhuafa Foundation, Jakarta as an expert advisor for the Covid 19 recovery initiatives for mothers and women
Other activities
- I co-founded and hosted the Asia Pacific Seminar Series since its onset. The seminar series has now evolved to become an UNSW-wide research group called the Asia Pacific Development and Security Research Group which I convene.
- I served as the Secretary for the Committee for the Asian Studies Association of Australia (ASAA) Presidents’ Prize for the Best Asian Studies Thesis in Australian universities for three years (2007-2009).
- I have conducted consultancy work for the Attorney General’s office on the rise of Islamism in local politics of Indonesia.
- I have been serving as an Expert Assessor of International Standing for the Australian Research Council since 2005.
- I was a member of the Academic Women in Leadership (AWIL) at UNSW in 2010.
- I have been convening the Asia-Pacific Seminar Series at UNSW at ADFA campus.
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I have been appointed to be on editorial boards including Studia Islamika, The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology.
My Research Supervision
Current Students under my supervision are part of the Asia Pacific Development and Security Research Group.
PhD in Southeast Asian Social Inquiry (code 1203)
- Mr Hadi Noori (PhD, UNSW funded, community-driven development in Afghanistan)
- Mr Ahmad Mufarih Hasan Fadly (PhD, LPDP Indonesian government-funded, Muslim Identity and Religiosity in Indonesia)
- Mr Teguh Ilham (PhD, LPDP Indonesian government-funded, Gender, Islam and Politics in Indonesia)
- Mr Ferdi Arifin (PhD, LPDP Indonesian government-funded, Minority rights and religion in Indonesia)
- Mr Fery Ferdiansyah (PhD, LPDP Health Politics in Indonesia)
My Teaching
My teaching philosophy is to transfer passion for knowledge. I value students' active learning and engagement in class and is among an approved peer teaching reviewer at UNSW Canberra.
I learn greatly from students' questions and I enjoy classroom interactions.
Since 2015 I have been running an annual students' conference which involve all the undergraduate students in Indonesian Studies at UNSW Canberra in partnership with the Indonesian Embassy, Canberra, and the Deference School of Foreign Languages (Melbourne).
Along with this conference she also has been coordinating the annual Indonesian speech contest convened by the Indonesian Embassy, Canberra.
Courses Taught
- Development Policies and Social Contexts in Contemporary Indonesia
- Islam and the Challenges of Modernity
- Gender, Class and Society in Indonesia
- All levels of Indonesian Language and Culture courses
- Honours supervision
- Research Projects (CDF undergraduate and IPS Masters Course Work) on the issues of Islam, gender, radicalism, interfaith issues in Indonesia