Dr. Satish Chandra Mishra is an economist by training, a strategic thinker by experience, and a political commentator by instinct. Renowned for his ability to connect ideas across disciplines, his writing, charisma, and public presence have earned him global recognition.

A Cambridge PhD who left the comforts of academia for shared rooms in Patna, Satish has always chosen to go where history is being made. He experienced India's Emergency up close, taught at Presidency College, and connected deeply with India's rural and urban aspirations.

From New York, he moved to Ethiopia during the civil war and served as a key advisor to six ministers in the final years of the Mengistu regime. He helped end the repressive villagisation policy and shaped Ethiopia's transition away from revolutionary socialism.

Later, as Chief Macro Economist for USAID across 22 African countries. His outstanding report on Somali post war reconstruction reached the highest levels of the US State Department.

At the OECD in Paris, he played a pivotal role in the expansion of the OECD to include Central and Eastern European countries. During the Asian Financial Crisis he led missions to Southeast Asian countries to assess the scope of assistance for economic recovery and social cohesion.

In 1999 Satish joined the UNDP in Indonesia as Head of UNSFIR, redefining the national discourse during a time of systemic collapse. His Human Development Report won the global award for best analysis. He compared Indonesia's systemic transition as not just a change in government but as a metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly.

He pioneered JAJAKI, a national dialogue platform that produced six White Papers on issues from social policy to military reform.

Satish later founded Strategic Asia to advance thought leadership across India, China, and Indonesia on topics from energy to social conflict.
He is now based in Bali, where he leads the Arthashastra Institute, fostering closer India-Indonesia ties through economic research, strategic partnership and civilisational linkages.

One of his long term ambitions is the establishment of an Indonesia-India research and training centre located in Bali's new special economic zone on Turtle Island. Another initiative is to launch Ayodhya House in the mountains of Bali. A dedicated centre to highlight a the two way influence on literature, music, drama and dance.A fluent speaker of more than seven languages, prolific writer, an Indonesian citizen, he continues to shape public discourse with intellectual rigour, clarity and vision.
Satish devotes much of his private time to writing, keeping fit and spending quality time with his two children. Satish also has a keen interest in Indonesia's history, it's impressive geography and unique culture.
He remains committed to a peaceful multipolar Asia.