Annette Anhar

The time spent at Monash University has given Annette Anhar the skills and knowledge to run a successful chain of restaurants, and also given her life-long friends.

A combination of computer and business savvy, plus a good dose of hard work has helped Monash University graduate Annette Anhar develop a chain of successful fine-dining restaurants in Indonesia.

Annette, a 2003 Bachelor of Business Systems graduate from Monash University's Clayton campus (now Bachelor of Business Information Systems), is a director of her family company, the Tugu Hotel Group.

She personally oversees the day-to-day operation of three restaurants in Indonesia's thriving capital city Jakarta. In what can often end up being 12-hour days, Annette regularly travels between the different locations, supervising staff, dealing with suppliers and welcoming customers late into the night.

Annette developed the concept for restaurant Lara Djonggrang, which specialises in "imperial" Indonesian cuisine. Teams of specialist cooks from across Indonesia provide diners with myriad high-quality Indonesian dishes from the one kitchen.

The busy restaurant is popular with Jakarta's expatriate community and international diplomats keen to get a taste of "high-cuisine".

Annette says her experience at Monash University helped make the venture a success.

The University's business systems degree combines knowledge of information technology with business and management implementation and gave Annette the skills to tailor the best IT solutions to the challenges of a particular business.

Business modelling and computer databases - fundamental to the success of the business - were skills developed from the lessons she learnt at Monash University.

Annette says she is very glad to have studied at Monash, which was recommended to her by career counsellors at secondary school.

"When I said that I really wanted to do a Bachelor of Business Systems they suggested Monash University because they have the best IT faculty," Annette recalls.

"I think Monash University is the largest and the best university in Australia. It has the best IT faculty, and the best business faculty," she says.

Monash University has campuses in Australia, Malaysia and South Africa, 56,000 students, 7000 staff and an enviable reputation for teaching and research excellence.

The university was created 50 years ago and has quickly grown in quality and reputation to be known and respected by employers around the world. There are more than 200,000 graduates around the globe who, just like Annette, used the skills and knowledge gained at Monash University to help build a successful career.

Annette says she loved studying at the Clayton campus, the largest of six campuses in and around Melbourne, Australia.

"The campus is really nice, really cosy. It really gives you a feel of living overseas, not like back home in Indonesia," she says.

Annette says she matured while studying at Monash. There was strong support from staff and other students who helped her with lessons, but also encouraged her to learn independently and not be afraid to think outside the square.

"What I learnt from Monash is the culture of the people and the campus and how they teach you to be open-minded people. It is just the feeling of Australia," she says.

Annette says she keeps in touch with many students in the class who now have successful careers across the world.

"I have a lot of friends who have graduated from Monash University. They are working in Greece, they are working in America, in Silicon Valley, so it is pretty good how you keep contact with them."

I think Monash University is the largest and the best university in Australia. It has the best IT faculty, and the best business faculty.

Find out more about studying at Monash University.