Basthen Mandowen was born in Jayapura, West Papua in 1997. He spent his childhood in Polimac where his mother taught at a local school nearby and his father was a teacher in Boven Digoel Regency. After completing his compulsory education, he traveled to China and New Zealand to pursue a different educational path. Thanks to a full scholarship from the government of Papua Province, he graduated from Victoria University of New Zealand – Te Herenga Waka with a degree in Design Innovation, specializing in Design for Social Innovation and Film.
During his university studies, he focused on sustainable practices, creative collaboration, project management, product development, and critical system thinking. He was an active student and participated in both the Pasifika and Papuan Student Associations. He was awarded a scholarship, the Pasifika Student Award Scholarship, and had the opportunity to collaborate with the New Zealand National Museum – Te Papa Tongarewa to propose an interactive method to acquire knowledge of Polynesian Astronomy in 2022. In terms of work experience, he has worked as a kitchenhand, commercial cleaner, freelance, and cable technician. His experiences and skills led him to his first professional career as a Digital Marketing Specialist in a small local company in Wellington. In his free time, he enjoys hiking and taking pictures of landscapes as he has a deep appreciation for nature.
