Dr. Nirwandar has an extensive background in international and national public service, including state-owned enterprises and academia, developed over a 30 years+ career. He currently serves as an Honorary Advisor for the Minister of Tourism of Indonesia, focused on the Middle East and Halal Tourism.

Prior to his current role, he served as Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy and was selected as Member of Program Committee of UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) representing Asia and the Pacific region from 2007-2013. He has also held several key positions in the State Ministry of Administrative Reforms and also served as Secretary General of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia.

Dr. Nirwandar has been granted several awards due to his great services and contributions, including Bintang Jasa Utama (the Star of Excellent Services) in 2008 given by the President of the Republic of Indonesia and Life Time Contribution Award from Indonesia Travel and Tourism Award 2014/2015 and Maecenas Award 2014 from Theatre Federation of Indonesia (Federasi). Dr. Nirwandar was sent to several universities in Paris (Institute International d’Administration Publique, Paris; University Paris I-Sorbonne; Ecole Nationale d’Administration; University Paris IX-Dauphine) for his Graduate and Doctorate in Public Administration from 1982 to 1988.