Sherly Tjoanda
Sherly Tjoanda Laos is an Indonesian politician and businesswoman who has served as the Governor of North Maluku since 20 February 2025. She is the first female governor of the province, having been elected in 2024 following the death of her husband, Benny Laos, who was a gubernatorial candidate.Sherly Tjoanda was born on 12 August 1982, in Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia, to Paulus Tjoanda and Maria Margaretha Liem. She is of Chinese descent, with Hakka maternal lineage. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Petra University in Surabaya, majoring in International Business Management, and later earned a master's degree from Inholland University, Netherlands.Career
Prior to her political career, Tjoanda was actively involved in several organizations. She served as the Chair of the TP PKK in Morotai from 2017 to 2022. She also chaired the Bela Peduli Foundation, which supports social initiatives such as aid for orphans, and was engaged with the Indonesian Farmers' Harmony Association. In addition, she held the position of Director at PT Bela Group, a company she co-developed with her husband.Political career
In 2024, Tjoanda entered politics following the death of her husband, Benny Laos, in a speedboat accident on 12 October 2024. Originally a gubernatorial candidate, Laos's passing led a coalition of eight political parties—including NasDem, PKB, Democrats, PAN, PPP, Gelora, PSI, and the Labour Party—to nominate Tjoanda as his replacement. Running with Sarbin Sehe as her deputy, she won the election with 50.73% of the vote based on preliminary counts, defeating competitors including incumbent figures. She was inaugurated as Governor of North Maluku on 20 February 2025, as the province’s first female governor.Personal life
Sherly Tjoanda was married to Benny Laos, a businessman former regent of Morotai, from 2005 until his death in 2024. The couple had three children: Edbert, Edelyn, and Edrick.