Saiful Akmal | Director
He earned his bachelor degree from English Department, Ar-Raniry State Islamic Institute in 2005. He received his master degree from The University of Liverpool, United Kingdom in 2007 focusing on the applied linguistics, specializing in critical/political discourse analysis on the language of power and justification in political speech. Saiful analyzed views of the Iraq War in Obama, Bush, Galloway and Blair political remarks in the media prior to the Iraq War. He holds a doctoral degree in Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Faculty of Language and Culture from Goethe University of Frankfurt, Germany researching the language of politics and the political rhetoric of ex-combatants leaders in post-conflict election setting in the newspapers and portal news, intertwining his multi-discipline interest in language, politics and the media.
He has been teaching since 2005 at Raniry State Islamic Institute, particularly in Discourse Analysis, Speech, Public Speaking, English for Islamic Studies and Specific Purposes, (Applied) Linguistics at the Teacher Training and Education Faculty. He also teaches Political Communication and Public Opinion at the Communication and Social and Political Science at the same university. He has been involved at the research think-thank institution, as political discourse analyst and program manager at The Aceh Institute since 2007. He is also actively engaged as media analyst and consultant at Aceh Society Task Force, Kata Hati Institute, AIPRD-AUSAID in post-tsunami reconstruction between 2005 2008. The ideas books, and articles he has written and presented in local, national in local, national media, seminars and conferences are among others; Travelogue: Aceh – Germany – Europe (2014, book), Views of The Iraq War: The Language of Power and Justification in Political Speeches (2008, book), and forthcoming (Political Rhetoric in Post-Conflict Aceh, book). He can be contacted at: saiful.akmal@gmail.com
She got a Bachelor Degree in Economics from Syiah Kuala University in 2002 and started her career right afterward as a volunteer in charge of finance in Yayasan Rumpun Bambu Indonesia (2002), and then professionally part-timely hired as a finance staff in many ad hoc projects of the Forum LSM Aceh such as in Program Pemberdayaan Mukim supported by World Bank (2002-2003).
Putri Aulia is graduated from Political Science (Political Science), Ar- Raniry State Islamic University in 2018. She wrote a bachelor thesis entitled “New Voters’ Political Behavior in the 2017 Aceh Election, A Case Study in Syiah Kuala Sub-District, Banda Aceh Municipality. She is actively engaged in the Indonesian Student Political Science Association (HIMAPOL INDO) and has served as treasurer in the Regional Coordinator 1 of Aceh Province for the period of 2016-2017 and was a member of the Board of the same organization for the 2017-2018 administration year. Besides, she is active in writing article and opinions in online and printed media such as in Pikiran Merdeka Aceh (weekly tabloid).
He received his bachelor degree in 2011 from Department of International Affairs at Northern Malaysia University (UUM). His project paper explored the reasons on why foreign third-party mediators – particularly Henry Dunant Centre and Crisis Management Initiative – willing to involved in finding conflict resolution for Aceh (2000-2005). Albeit the reasons, the research also found the condition of mutually hurting stalemate very much influence the sustainability of the resolution. Later on, he earned his master degree on strategic studies from the same university in 2013, specializing on strategy of local civil society organizations in Aceh peace process. He explored the shifting strategy carried on by local civil society organizations and its members during conflict and Aceh post-conflict from against to cooperate with the Government, even trying to reclaim the position in the government itself. Currently, he is on the first stage of PhD degree in the Institute of Ethnic Studies at National University of Malaysia.
She received her master degree in Public Administration from University of Gadjah Mada (2014), and a bachelor degree from University Science of Malaysia (2008). Muazzinah focuses of interestst are: public policy, public services and woman in politics issues. Some of his works and researches are: Evaluation of Lawmakers in Bireun District in Implementing their Legislative Functions (2014), Advocacy and training for women rights (2012), Public innovation implementation in Bireun (2011), Training Management for Specific Women Rights, (2010), Advokacy and training for women on development and politics in Bireun (2010). She can be reached via email: 
Khatijatusshalihah or also known as Shelly Hanafiah is the Human Resources Manager at Aceh Institute. She earned her bachelor degree in Psychology in Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh, Indonesia in 2013 and later got her master degree from Texas A&M University, USA in 2016, majoring in Education and Human Resources Development. She was honored to be graduated as Distinguished Honor Graduate from EHRD department. During her college time, she was also selected as one of IELSP grantee to participate in English and Culture immersion program at Virginia Tech University, USA in 2011. Shelly’s research interests are ranging from psychology, organizational, cultural, conflict, gender studies, and digital lifestyle. Some of her published works are “The Effect of Internet Youth; What We Know, What We Do Not Know, and What We Need to know (2019, Proceeding), Exploring the Strategic Role of Human Resources Development in Capacity Building (2017, Journal Article). Relationship between Individualism-Collectivism and Forgiveness of Victims of the Aceh Human Rights Conflict (2013,Journal Article), 12 Years of Peace: Has the Victims Move On Psychologically?(2018, Opinion). Forecasting Women’s Electability in Politics (2018, Opinion).
He obtained a Bachelor Social Economics of Agriculture / Agribusiness at the Syiah Kuala University (USK) Banda Aceh, Indonesia (2007-2014). now he is one of the activists in the social-entrepreneur in the field of education. he is one of the founders of Gampong Inggreh Aceh (GIA), the educational institution which adopted an English learning system by involving the surrounding environment, especially residents in the village where the institution was located. since a study at university, he was one of the activists known in his time and to date, he had served as a President of Student Executive Board in 2010-2011, that made him quite instrumental in various community activities, overseeing government policies, and even advocating for the interests of the people of Aceh.
Rizkika Lhena Darwin is Manager of Survey at Aceh Institute. She got her Bachelor Degree from the Political Department, Syiah Kuala University (USK) Banda Aceh, Indonesia (2007-2012), and a Masters in Politics and Government from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2012-2014). She actively contributes ideas through local and national media and present in national and international forums. Some of his works are: Existentialism of the Aceh Women’s Movement (2013, Opinion); Bireuen, Aceh: The Aftermath of Post-conflict and the Decline of the Party of Aceh, a chapter in “Electoral Dynamics in Indonesia: Money Politics, Patronage and Clientelism at the Grassroots by Aspinall & Sukmajati (2016, Book Chapter); The Power of Female Brokers: Local Election in North Aceh (2017, Journal), and Incumbency Disadvantages: Local Election and Populism in Indonesia (2017, Proceeding).
Ichsan Maulana is an alumni of Development Economics (Economic Development), Syiah Kuala University. Completed his bachelor degree in 2018, with the title of the thesis “Fiscal Decentralization and Poverty in Indonesia. Case Study: Eastern Indonesia”. Lastly (2019) became the research partner of Dr. Moch Nur Ichwan, MA for the research “Perception of Ulama on the Nation-Nation: Authority, Negotiation and Reservation”, for the Puspidep/Convey institution.