The SEAFDEC Council appointed Dr. Rudi Alek Wahyuddin as the new Chief of IFRDMD starting 17 January 2023. He succeeded Mr. Zulkarnaen Fahmi whose term of duty at IFRDMD ended in January 2023 while he also served as the Head of the Research Center for Marine and Fisheries Socio-economic of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Dr. Rudi, as he is fondly called, began his career as a planning analyst at the MMAF in Jakarta in 2002. He authored and co-authored several scientific publications which are mainly about genetic diversity and population dynamics of lobsters, and the development of alternative livelihoods for small islands. His knowledge and expertise in fisheries development and management would significantly contribute to the success of the programs and activities of IFRDMD on inland fisheries development in the Southeast Asian region.