KTF (Kokoda Track Foundation) is honoured to welcome Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, as our new Patron.
“I’m delighted to become Patron of the Kokoda Track Foundation. The friendship between Australia and Papua New Guinea is one of deep history and shared purpose — we are neighbours, partners, and friends. I look forward to sharing KTF’s stories about how they have been working hand in hand with communities across PNG to strengthen education, health, equality, and leadership."
The Governor-General’s patronage of KTF’s work to improve lives, livelihoods, and futures in Papua New Guinea reflects the deep and enduring friendship between Australia and our closest neighbour.
“KTF’s approach reflects perfectly the wonderful spirit of partnership between Australia and Papua New Guinea, because partnership is at the core of everything we do — with the people, communities, and government of Papua New Guinea,” said KTF Chair Ian Kemish AM. “In welcoming the Governor-General as our Patron, and with her deep commitment to supporting Australians and our neighbours alike, we look forward to expanding our impact, working alongside the people of PNG to drive meaningful change.”
KTF CEO Dr. Genevieve Nelson welcomed the appointment with deep appreciation.
“We are delighted and incredibly grateful that Governor-General Mostyn is continuing her longstanding engagement with Papua New Guinea through this role. Since her inspirational address at KTF’s Lt. Col. Ralph Honner Leadership Oration in 2016, Her Excellency has been a steadfast friend to both PNG and KTF.
The Governor-General’s commitment to putting care, kindness, and respect at the centre of her term aligns closely with KTF’s mission to improve lives and build futures through access to education, healthcare, equality, and the development of tomorrow’s leaders.
We look forward to working together to strengthen the bonds between Australia and Papua New Guinea for years to come.”
KTF has spent more than 20 years supporting locally led, long-term change in Papua New Guinea — training teachers and health workers, building and resourcing schools and aid posts, installing solar power, and fostering gender equality and youth leadership across the country. We look forward to working alongside the Governor-General to keep the spirit of Kokoda alive between our nations.
KTF (Kokoda Track Foundation) is an international development organisation working alongside people and communities in Papua New Guinea to improve lives, livelihoods, and futures through initiatives in the vital areas of education, health, equality, and leadership. For more than 20 years, we’ve been keeping the friendship between Australia and PNG — and the spirit of Kokoda — alive.
Our team, 86 per cent of whom are Papua New Guinean, works in partnership with communities to identify their needs and strengths, and together we implement programs that achieve long-term change. Our projects aim to train high-quality teachers and community health workers; provide these professionals with mentoring and professional development opportunities; build educational and health infrastructure; fund the ongoing maintenance and resourcing of schools and aid posts; and provide remuneration to teachers and health workers across rural regions.
These initiatives are supported by the installation of solar energy and lighting systems for off-grid households in related communities — powering their success. We also promote equality for all, advocate a zero-tolerance approach to gender-based violence, and promote gender equity among adolescents through the fun of soccer. Looking to the future, we identify and nurture the next generation of leaders among final-year tertiary students from across PNG.
Taking a holistic approach, our work is focused in hubs across the country, including our ‘home’ of Kokoda. We currently deliver programs in Oro, Central, Western, and New Ireland provinces, as well as the National Capital District (NCD).
KTF is a member of the Australian Council for International Development and holds full accreditation with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) ANCP program. Their high standards for operation are integral to everything we do. We work with a broad range of government, corporate, and philanthropic partners and supporters to deliver real, lasting impact.
