Early Life

In the late 90s, Muhammad Nidhal Ezzat Luthfi (better known as Nidhal) was born in Karawang, West Java, Indonesia. Less than a year after his birth, his family relocated to Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, where he and his family stayed for almost two decades. It was due to his father's job as a reporter for one of Indonesia's leading national news outlets, where he then shifted to be a full-time embassy staffer. His father was tasked with covering critical topics related to geopolitics and the political dynamics in the Middle East. Nidhal spent approximately 15 formative years in Yemen before he and his family left the country, just ahead of the devastating 2015 Civil War that tore the nation into pieces.

Education Life

From an early age, Nidhal exhibited a deep interest in geography, history, and world cultures, which ultimately guided him to enroll in a degree in international relations at one of Jakarta's oldest private universities. During his university years, he actively participated in various organizations focused on youth empowerment, academic research, and social campaigns. His engagement extended beyond campus, as he took part in numerous international conferences and debates at local, national, and global levels. Looking ahead, Nidhal plans to pursue a master’s degree in either digital policies or development studies.

Career Life

Inspired by his late father's professional legacy as an international affairs analyst, Nidhal embarked on his professional journey as a junior staffer at a foreign embassy in Jakarta, where he gained a wealth of firsthand experience in the intricacies of diplomacy that shape international relations. Wanting to pursue more policy research, he joined one of Indonesia's prominent think tanks based in Jakarta, as a policy researcher, where he honed his research and advocacy skills in areas that align with his career aspirations. With a long-term goal of obtaining a Ph.D. in international studies and aspiring to become a prodigious writer, Nidhal believes that continuous self-development, intercultural management, and strong emotional intelligence are the fundamental skills to excel in any role in life. He lives by the motto, "See beyond what the eyes can see," striving to embody this philosophy in all his endeavors.

Interests

• Multilateralism and digital topics
• Writing and travelling
• Casually cooking and gardening