Prof. Stella Christie is an esteemed cognitive scientist and academic leader, currently serving as the Vice Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Indonesia. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from Northwestern University. Prior to her governmental role, she was a professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where she led the Child Cognition Center and served as Research Chair at the Tsinghua Laboratory of Brain and Intelligence.In her capacity as Vice Minister, Prof. Christie is committed to fostering an inclusive and sustainable research ecosystem. Her initiatives focus on bridging academia with industry and community service, promoting partnerships with national and international researchers, encouraging publications in reputable journals, and protecting intellectual property. She also emphasizes the importance of aligning higher education with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Prof. Christie's vision includes transforming higher education to meet the demands of the digital era, advocating for AI literacy, and eliminating the stigma associated with vocational education by promoting applied sciences as integral to national development.