Mr. Dharsono Hartono
Dharsono Hartono is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of PT Rimba Makmur Utama, an Indonesia-based company that manages Katingan Mentaya Project, the world’s largest nature-based solution project in terms of carbon emission reduction, producing more than 7 million tons of carbon credits annually.
Katingan Mentaya Project is based on the premise that the company can save large areas of peatland swamp forest of approximately 157,875 hectares in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, offer local communities in 35 surrounding villages sustainable sources of income , help combat climate change – and base this on a solid business model. What defines the company is a no- nonsense, transparent and result-oriented approach to land use and conservation in a part of the world where this is needed most. PT Rimba Makmur Utama is certified B-Corporations (B-Corps).
A graduate from Cornell University with a Master’s Degree in Financial Engineering, Dharsono had previously worked for multinational giants such as Price Waterhouse Coopers and JPMorgan. He was named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018, WEF’s 2020 Sustainability Pioneer, Schwab Foundation’s 2020 Social Entrepreneurs of the Year and more recently was named winner of the 2022 YPO Global Impact Award. In 2023, he holds a position as the Head of Permanent Committee on Climate Change of Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, as the Chairman – ASEAN BAC Carbon Center of Excellence Legacy Project and also as the Chairman- ASEAN BAC Net Zero Hub Legacy Project.