07 Oct Rani Pramesti Joins Wedu as the New Executive Director 

Today, Wedu announces that Rani Pramesti has joined Wedu as the new Executive Director, effective September 2, 2024. 

Rani takes over from Claire Naylor-Trein, who served as Wedu Executive Director from March 2021 until June 2024. After three and half years of Claire’s leadership, Claire decided to step down as ED to allow for leadership grounded in the regions that Wedu works in, as an organisation serving South and Southeast Asian women. 

Rani brings over 18 years of experience in advocating for gender equality. She has in-depth expertise in co-designing and delivering leadership programs with women, most recently with women survivors of Female Genital Mutilation / Cutting with diaspora women in Australia. Rani is also a creative storyteller and extremely passionate about the role the arts play in developing and strengthening women’s voices and leadership. Rani has consistently devoted herself to collaborating with and uplifting systemically marginalised communities, including refugee and migrant women, communities of diverse SOGIESC, racialised communities, Indigenous / First Nations communities, as well as Deaf and Disabled communities. Rani has collaborated with communities across Asia, Australia, Africa, and North America. Finally, Rani brings a systems lens to her leadership. She leads with questions and strives to activate collective intelligence, creativity, and energy towards a shared vision. 

Rani holds a Bachelor of Social Work (First Class Honours) / Anthropology from the University of Sydney, a Bachelor of Dramatic Art from the University of Melbourne, and is currently completing a Master of Design Futures from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University.

Below, a testimonial from Oranutt Narapruet (Fai), Interim Chair of the Thai Board, on Rani’s work and her suitability as Wedu’s new Executive Director.

“Rani’s ability to translate intersectional feminist and decolonial values into processes is awe-inspiring. I am confident Rani will be a transformative leader for Wedu and be able to position our organisation in the women’s and feminist leadership ecosystem with integrity. I believe she will successfully orient the organisation towards meaningful impact that can move the needle in closing the gender leadership gap in Asia.”

– Oranutt Narapruet (Fai), Interim Chair of the Thai Board 

About Wedu: Wedu envisions a world where half of all leaders are women. We provide leadership development programmes, opportunities, and education funding to nurture the lifelong leadership development of women changemakers in South and Southeast Asia. 

For more information, email communications@weduglobal.org