Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih

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Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih
Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih, 2019.jpg
Ambassador of Indonesia to the Czech Republic
In office
13 February 2019 –28 February 2025
Alma mater Gadjah Mada University (Dra.)

Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih (born 17 August 1959) is an Indonesian retired diplomat who last served as ambassador to the Czech Republic from 2019 to 2025. Before her ambassadorial tenure, she served as consul general in Shanghai from 2013 to 2016 and secretary of the protocol and consular directorate general from 2016 to 2019.

Contents

Early life and education

Born in Yogyakarta on 17 August 1959, [1] Kenssy was born into a family of artists. Her father, K. P. H. Notoprojo, was a prominent gamelan master who taught gamelan in California, and had one of his compositions, the Puspawarna, included on the Voyager Golden Record. [2] Kenssy spent her childhood in Yogyakarta and continued her higher education in the same city, where she studied international relations at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in 1978. In contrast to most of her peers who were involved in political activities, Kenssy joined Swagayugama, UGM's Javanese dance student association, and learned traditional dance at the Paguyuban Beksan Ngayogyakarto. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in February 1983. [3] Upon graduating, Kenssy initially considered working in journalism, but she ended up choosing diplomacy. [4]

Diplomatic career

Kenssy joined the foreign ministry after completing basic diplomatic education in 1986. The year after, he was assigned as section chief within the directorate general of politics. [1] Her first overseas assignment was at the consular section of the embassy in Rome with the rank of third secretary. Kenssy began engaging in cultural diplomacy during her assignment in Rome, where she would perform traditional Javanese dance in diplomatic receptions. Her favorite Javanese dance was the Golek Lambangsari, which she described as a calm and dynamic dance. [3] [2]

After being posted in Rome, Kenssy returned to the foreign ministry as the chief of Southeast Asia Section in the directorate of Asia Pacific within the directorate general of Politics from 1994 to 2001. After completing her mid-level diplomatic training in 2001, she was posted to the consulate general in Johor Baru as consul for press, social, and cultural affairs with the rank of first secretary, serving until 2002. [1] She was responsible for managing the presence Indonesian migrant workers and citizens, [5] which was unexpected for her. [4] On one occasion, Kenssy had to coordinated with local authorities to manage the casualties and contact the families of the victims of a capsized ship carrying Indonesian citizens from Batam. [5]

Kenssy was appointed as the deputy director (chief of subdirectorate) of the first region within the South America and Caribbean directorate in 2002. A year later, she completed her senior diplomatic education. After a two-year stint, she was sent to the economic section of the embassy in Bangkok, serving with the diplomatic rank of minister counsellor. Returning to Jakarta in 2007, she became secretary to the directorate general of Asia, Pacific, and Africa. Her career continued with a posting as deputy chief of mission at the embassy in Singapore in 2011. [1] Following the appointment of Indonesia's ambassador to Singapore Wardana as deputy foreign minister, Kenssy became the embassy chargé d'affaires ad interim, during which she organized Enchanting Indonesia, a two-day cultural heritage promotion of Indonesia. The event was attended by, among others, the-then future President of Singapore Halimah Yacob. [6]

After serving in Singapore, Kenssy was appointed as consul general in Shanghai in 2013. [1] During her tenure, she focused on promoting trade, investment, and tourism to Indonesia. [7] [8] [9] She invited governors and mayors from Indonesia to visit Shanghai for comparative study and establish sister city cooperation. [10] After three years of serving in Shanghai, on 21 November 2016 Kenssy was appointed as the secretary of the protocol and consular directorate general. [11] Following reorganizations within the foreign ministry, she was reappointed to the position on 3 January 2017. [12]

Ambassador to the Czech Republic

Kenssy being sworn in as ambassador in 2019.

In September 2018, President Joko Widodo nominated Kenssy for ambassador to the Czech Republic. [13] After passing an assessment held by the House of Representative's first commission on 3 October, [14] she was installed as ambassador on 13 February 2019. [15] She presented her credentials to the President of the Czech Republic Miloš Zeman on 19 June 2019. [4]

As ambassador, she stated her focus were on promoting trade, investment, and tourism to address the trade deficit with the Czech Republic, and continuing the priority of protecting Indonesian citizens. [4] During the COVID-19 pandemic, her team at the Indonesian Embassy in Prague, predominantly consisting of women, worked quickly to establish a Contingency Plan, optimize a hotline, disseminate information, provide logistical aid to 217 vulnerable Indonesian citizens, facilitate the repatriation of 15 Indonesian migrant workers, and negotiate with employers to ensure Indonesian migrant workers received their due wages in line with the Czech economic stimulus package. [1] Kenssy also continued promoting Indonesia through cultural diplomacy with her dance skills and, in the Indonesia's 78th Independence Day celebration, performed the Srikandi-Suradewati classical Yogyanese dance. [2]

Kenssy also supported the exiles of the 30 September Movement—Indonesian citizens who were stranded abroad due to the political upheaval—who resided in Prague. Kenssy facilitated communication between the exiles and the Indonesian government. She also organized meetings between the exiles and the National Commission on Human Rights and with Indonesia's coordinating minister for politics, law, and security Mahfud MD and justice and human rights minister Yasonna Laoly, advocating for the restoration of their constitutional rights and recognition of their unjust treatment. In a meeting with the latter, Kenssy broke into tears after describing the exiles who sang the Indonesia's national anthem with fervent patriotism. Her efforts culminated in the government recognizing the constitutional rights of the exiles and providing them with special immigration services for their return to Indonesia. [16] [17]

Kenssy ended her ambassadorial term with a handover ceremony to the chargé d'affaires ad interim Ely Tioria on 28 February 2025. [18]

Personal life

Kenssy is married with two children. [1] She is a fan of Stevie Wonder. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Kementerian Luar Negeri, Republik Indonesia (21 April 2020). Buku Kartini Masa Kini [Contemporary Kartini Book](PDF). pp. 37–42.
  2. 1 2 3 Faiq, Mohammad Hilmi (4 September 2023). "Kenssy D Ekaningsih Pentas Menari". Kompas. Archived from the original on 25 October 2025. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Falsafah Jawa dalam Menari Jadi Senjata Dubes Kenssy Berdiplomasi" [Javanese Dance Philosophy Becomes Ambassador Kenssy’s Diplomatic Weapon]. Kagama.co. Kagama. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gibbons, Zeynita (26 September 2019). "Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih dubes yang bercita-cita menjadi wartawan" [Kenssy Dwi Ekaningsih, the Ambassador Who Dreamed of Becoming a Journalist]. ANTARA News. ANTARA. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Taufiq (17 December 2019). "Kisah Mencekam Dubes Kenssy Saat Bertugas di Malaysia" [Ambassador Kenssy’s Tense Experience While Serving in Malaysia]. Kagama.co. Kagama. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  6. ↑ "Enchanting Indonesia in Singapore: Bringing cultural heritages closer to the world". The Jakarta Post. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  7. ↑ CHINADaily. "Investment and tourism promotion held in Shanghai's Indonesia Street". CHINAdaily.com.cn. China Daily. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  8. ↑ Utami, Rini. "Furnitur indonesia laris manis di Shanghai" [Indonesian Furniture Sells Well in Shanghai]. ANTARA News. ANTARA. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Praditya, Ilyas Istianur (28 November 2015). "China Minat Tanamkan Rp 25 Triliun ke RI" [China Interested in Investing Rp 25 Trillion in Indonesia]. Liputan6. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Savitri, Ayunda Windyastuti (21 September 2015). "KJRI Shanghai Berharap Ahok Mau Datang untuk Studi Banding Infrastruktur" [Indonesian Consulate in Shanghai Hopes Ahok Will Visit for Infrastructure Benchmarking]. Detik. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  11. ↑ "Menlu RI Lantik 9 Pejabat Eselon II Kementerian Luar Negeri" [Foreign Minister of Indonesia Inaugurates 9 Echelon II Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (in Indonesian). 21 November 2016. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  12. ↑ Kementerian Luar Negeri, Republik Indonesia (3 January 2017). "Menlu RI Lantik 50 Pejabat Eselon II Kemlu" [Foreign Minister of Indonesia Inaugurates 50 Echelon II Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]. Kementerian Luar Negeri Republik Indonesia. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  13. ↑ Ihsanuddin (15 September 2018). "Presiden Jokowi Tunjuk Dua Politisi Golkar Jadi Dubes". Kompas (in Indonesian). Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
  14. ↑ "22 Calon Dubes RI Diuji di DPR: Hajrianto Thohari ke Lebanon, Hasrul Azwar ke Maroko, Mahendra Siregar ke AS" [22 Indonesian Ambassador Candidates Tested at the DPR: Hajrianto Thohari to Lebanon, Hasrul Azwar to Maroko, Mahendra Siregar to the US]. The Jakarta Observer (in Indonesian). 4 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Sapiie, Marguerite Afra (14 February 2019). "Jokowi welcomes foreign ambassadors". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  16. ↑ Ni'am, Syakirun; Meiliana, Diamanty (29 August 2023). "Tangis Dubes RI untuk Ceko di Depan Mahfud MD, Ceritakan Eksil 1965, Nyanyikan Lagu Indonesia Raya" [Indonesian Ambassador to Czech Republic Cries Before Mahfud MD, Tells 1965 Exile Story, Sings Indonesia Raya]. Kompas.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  17. ↑ Michaella, Sonya (3 April 2023). "KBRI Praha Fasilitasi Pertemuan Komnas HAM dan Eksil 1965" [Indonesian Embassy in Prague Facilitates Meeting Between Komnas HAM and 1965 Exiles]. IDN Times (in Indonesian). Retrieved 26 October 2025.
  18. ↑ Indonesian Embassy in Prague [@indonesiainprague]; (5 March 2025). "Pada Jumat, 28 Februari 2025 telah berlangsung acara serah terima jabatan Kepala Perwakilan KBRI Praha dari Duta Besar LBBP RI untuk Republik Ceko, Ibu Kenssy D. Ekaningsih kepada Ibu Ely Tioria, Kuasa Usaha Ad Interim (KUAI)/Minister Counsellor" (in Indonesian). Retrieved 26 October 2025– via Instagram.
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