Arya is a documentary filmmaker, visual journalist and public media executive based in Portland, Oregon. His multilayered upbringing in Indonesia shaped a lifelong curiosity for histories, the arts, Indigeneity and foodways—subject matters which he has spent a career examining through an inclusive and experiential lens.

Arya is currently the Executive Producer of “Oregon Experience,” a multiplatform history documentary series on Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) that reveals the full complexity of the Pacific Northwest's past.

He is also the co-creator and former co-showrunner of Superabundant, OPB’s award-winning digital series exploring the food systems of the Pacific Northwest.

Past OPB video reportage have investigated VR games designed to reduce pain, Rohingya genocide survivors adapting to new American lives and the creative process of a Grammy-nominated backpack jazz producer. Other work for public media have appeared on PBS NewsHour, NPR and other outlets.

Previously, Arya honed his craft at IFA Media in Singapore, where he developed and produced TV documentaries for international networks such as ARTE France, the History Channel and the National Geographic Channel. He also led teams in creating video and interactive exhibits for museums, through working at Cortina Productions in Washington, D.C.

His first gig was freelancing for Vanity Fair. The video he co-produced for the magazine’s 2008 essay on waterboarding has been credited as a catalyst for the federal investigation into that interrogation practice.

In addition to his production work, Arya serves as the national board representative for the Portland chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.