The inauguration ceremony was a special occasion for Professor Andy Omara and Professor Herliana. The married couple, both faculty members at Universitas Gadjah Mada’s Faculty of Law (FH UGM), were inaugurated as professors on the same day as their 25th wedding anniversary.
“This professorial inauguration feels even more special because we got married on this very day 25 years ago,” Andy said in his inaugural address on Tuesday (October 13).
Andy Omara also thanked his wife, Herliana, for supporting him throughout his personal life and academic career.
In turn, Herliana described her husband as the head of their family and a partner who has always given her room to grow.
“My beloved husband, Professor Andy Omara, the head of our family, my partner in striving together, and my greatest supporter throughout my journey—thank you for always giving me every opportunity to grow and build my career. Thank you for never limiting how far I could go,” she said.
“We were brought together not only as husband and wife but also united in our pursuit of knowledge and our commitment to service. What matters most is not how quickly we reach our destination, but how steadfastly we persevere, how firmly we keep moving forward, and how determined we are never to give up.”
“Love means choosing to keep walking together, sometimes waiting for one another, continually strengthening each other, and always reminding ourselves that every step, no matter how small, brings us closer to our destination,” Herliana said.
In her inaugural address, titled “Menuju Indonesia sebagai Arbitration-Ready Jurisdiction: Penguatan Ekosistem Arbitrase Energi” (Indonesia Toward an Arbitration-Ready Jurisdiction: Strengthening the Energy Arbitration Ecosystem), Herliana discussed the importance of preparing Indonesia to resolve disputes in the energy sector through arbitration.
She explained that energy projects involve substantial investments, complex technologies, long implementation periods, and numerous stakeholders, making them susceptible to complicated disputes.
Arbitration can help resolve such disputes. However, having arbitration rules and institutions alone is not enough. Indonesia must also build business confidence through consistent law enforcement, specialized expertise in energy disputes, appropriate procedures, and supportive institutions. These efforts are expected to strengthen confidence in dispute resolution within Indonesia and reduce the need to settle disputes abroad.
Meanwhile, Andy Omara, in his inaugural address titled “Strategi Yudisial dalam Menentukan Batas Konstitusional Undang-Undang Bidang Energi” (Judicial Strategies for Determining the Constitutional Boundaries of Energy Legislation), examined the role of the Constitutional Court in ensuring that energy-related laws remain consistent with the Constitution. He discussed how judicial review can help ensure that energy policies do not conflict with constitutional principles.
According to Andy, energy management concerns natural resources that must be utilized for the greatest prosperity of the people. Therefore, energy-related legislation must consider the principle of state control over natural resources, the division of authority between central and regional governments, and the public interest.
Through judicial review, the Constitutional Court can annul provisions that conflict with the Constitution or clarify how particular provisions must be interpreted. Its decisions also influence the direction of energy policy and guide the development of subsequent regulations.
The research presented by Herliana and Andy highlights two important dimensions of energy-sector governance. On the one hand, Indonesia needs to strengthen its dispute resolution system through arbitration. On the other hand, energy policies must remain within constitutional boundaries to ensure that natural resource management takes public interests into account.
Professor Ir. Panut Mulyono, Chair of UGM’s Board of Professors, stated that Andy Omara and Herliana were among UGM’s 548 active professors. Within FH UGM, they were also among its 21 active professors out of 32 professors who have served at the faculty.
Their inauguration further strengthens FH UGM’s academic contributions by advancing constitutional and arbitration law, particularly in addressing legal challenges in the energy sector. Coinciding with their 25th wedding anniversary, this achievement also marks Professor Andy and Professor Herliana’s shared journey in advancing knowledge and contributing to academia.
Author: Adinda Putri Rahma
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Priyananda
Photo: Donnie