Jakarta (ANTARA) – The head of Indonesia’s newly formed state wealth fund, Danantara, on Friday defended the appointment of an Australian national to lead its critical natural resources export arm, citing his deep industry ties and local cultural fluency.Rosan Roeslani, CEO of Danantara, told reporters at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta that Luke Thomas Mahony was selected as president director of PT Danantara Sumber Daya Indonesia (DSI) due to a combination of global commodity expertise and local integration.”The most important thing is his trading experience, his experience in managing mineral resources, his leadership in many mineral companies, and his network is also strong,” Roeslani said, adding that Mahony’s qualifications extend far beyond his basic track record.Mahony, an Australian citizen, previously served as a director at nickel miner PT Vale Indonesia and has been Danantara’s senior executive vice president of business performance and optimization since September 2025.Roeslani noted that Mahony's deep familiarity with the country is a key asset.”He can speak Indonesian, and his wife is Indonesian,” Roeslani said.The appointment comes amid a major structural overhaul of Indonesia's resource sector. President Prabowo Subianto recently announced the creation of the specialized state-owned enterprise to act as the sole exporter for several key commodities, including coal, palm oil, and ferroalloys.The centralized model aims to curb state revenue leakages driven by trade misinvoicing and illegal export practices.