His uncle is Agus Salim, one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Indonesia and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the early 1950s.

He became one of the well-known group of 'Berkeley Mafia' economic advisers, working closely with Professor Widjojo Nitisastro.

In July 2001, the World Bank launched an independent inquiry called the Extractive Industries Review (EIR).

The EIR recommendations were published in January 2004 in a final report entitled Striking a Better Balance.

The EIR served to alter the World Bank's policies on oil, gas and mining.