Prof. (Emeritus) Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia in 1964 and obtained a doctorate in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, USA in 1980. He started his career as a teaching assistant and research assistant at LPEM FEBUI (1961-1962). Then, he was appointed as Deputy Head of Research, Head of the Computing Laboratory at the University of Indonesia (1973-1974), Deputy Dean for Academic Affairs (1989-1991 and 1992-1994), and as Professor at the University of Indonesia in the field of Economic Planning (1993). He also served as Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Indonesia (1994-1997).

In 1998, Dorodjatun was appointed Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the United States. He also served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Commonwealth of Dominica, St. St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and the Republic of St. Lucia & Grenada, located in the Caribbean Sea region.

During the reign of Abdurrahman Wahid, Dorodjatun was offered the position of Minister of Economic Affairs, which he later rejected. In 2001, he was again offered the position, and finally accepted it and was appointed by President Megawati Sukarnoputri as Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs in August 2001. His appointment as Minister for Economic Affairs was welcomed positively by the market. In fact, because of his popularity, the Mutual Cooperation Cabinet economic team he led was nicknamed by others as the 'Dream Team'. Dorodjatun focuses on three main national economic recovery programs: reducing foreign debt, promoting regional decentralization, and dealing with unemployment.

In 2005, he was appointed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as Co-Chair of 'Panel 45' to formulate Indonesia's position in the 60th United Nations General Assembly (2005). He also served as a member of the Advisory Board of LEMHANNAS RI (2006-2010). Currently, he serves as Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Indonesia.