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Derwin John Pereira
Born	(1966-10-30) October 30, 1966 (age 58) Singapore
Citizenship	Singaporean
Alma mater	Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School Harvard University and London School of Economics
Occupation(s)	Political strategist and writer
Known for	Journalism and political consulting
Website	https://pereiraintl.com/

Derwin John Pereira (born October 30, 1966) is a political strategist and business consultant, and the founder and CEO of Pereira International Pte Ltd^[1], a Singapore-based strategic advisory firm focused on Southeast Asia.^[2][3] He began his career in 1991 as a research officer with the Ministry of Defense. In 1992,^[2] he moved to journalism, joining The Straits Times. As a foreign correspondent, he reported from Jakarta between 1997 and 2001 and later served as the paper's Indonesia Bureau Chief from 2001 to 2005. He then spent over a year at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government as a Mason Fellow^[4].^[3][5] After graduation, he was appointed as the United States Bureau Chief of The Straits Times from 2006 to 2008.^[3] Pereira left The Straits Times in 2008 to venture into the world of consulting. Leveraging his extensive experience and international network, Pereira established Pereira International Pte Ltd in 2010.^[3][6]

Pereira was born in Singapore to John Phillip Pereira, a banker, and Theresa John Pereira, a homemaker. He grew up with four siblings and attended St Gabriel's School, where he completed his GCE 'O' Levels. Pereira then studied at Catholic Junior College, where he achieved his GCE 'A' Levels, excelling in History and English Literature.^[2][6]

Pereira pursued higher education at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Economics, specializing in government and international relations. He later earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2006.^[2][5][6]

Pereira began his professional career in 1991 as a Research Officer with the Ministry of Defence in Singapore. In 1992, he transitioned to journalism with The Straits Times,^[7] Singapore's national daily.^[7] He worked as a foreign correspondent based in Jakarta from 1997 to 2001 and subsequently served as the Indonesia Bureau Chief from 2001 to 2005.^[8]

In 2005, Pereira was awarded a Singapore Press Holdings Scholarship to study at Harvard University, where he was a Mason Fellow. He completed his studies in 2006. Following his graduation, Pereira was appointed as the United States Bureau Chief for The Straits Times, stationed in Washington, D.C., from 2006 to 2008.^[9]

In 2008, Pereira left journalism to enter the consulting field. He founded Pereira International Pte Ltd in 2010, a strategic advisory firm focusing on Southeast Asia. The firm provides political and business consulting services and has established a strong presence in the region.^[9]

Pereira International has been involved in advising clients on political and business matters in Southeast Asia. Pereira's firm benefits from his extensive network and experience in the region. He has built connections with influential figures in Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries. ^{[citation needed]}

Pereira has sponsored several Southeast Asian programs in the USA, particularly at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies and the Centre for New American Security. He is passionate about giving back to society and nurturing the future generation of leaders. To ensure that the most deserving have a chance at exploring their potential, he has established scholarships at Harvard University, the National University of Singapore[1], and Nanyang Technological University.^[2][10]

Throughout his career leading up to the establishment of Pereira International, he had interactions with several notable figures. These include Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime Minister of Singapore; Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the former President of Indonesia; Taufik Kiemas, the late husband of Megawati Sukarnoputri; Akbar Tandjung, the former Golkar chairman; Lim Siong Guan, the former Permanent Secretary of Defense (Singapore); and Leslie Fong, the former editor of The Straits Times.^{[citation needed]}

Pereira faced criticism from Indonesian media after reporting on a potential terror attack in 2002, which later occurred in Bali. His reporting on imminent threats in 2003, including the Marriott bombing, was seen as prescient, though it led to controversy regarding his sources and predictions. ^{[citation needed]}

In 2015, Michael Buehler published an article alleging that Pereira International had a contract with a U.S. lobbying firm to represent the Indonesian government. Pereira denied these allegations, apologized for any confusion, and confirmed that neither he nor his firm had received money from the Indonesian government. ^{[citation needed]}

Pereira was recognized with the Feature of the Year award by The Straits Times for his reporting on terrorism threats in Indonesia.^[11] The following year, he received the Story of the Year award for his coverage of the Marriott Hotel bombing. ^{[citation needed]}