BizPrint and Scan proudly announces its designation as an Official Print Partner for the highly anticipated 2024 PNG Industrial and Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference, scheduled to be held at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby on July 3-4, 2024.

As a silver sponsor of the event, BizPrint and Scan will play a crucial role in facilitating the success of the conference by providing comprehensive printing services for all participating businesses.  A key highlight will be on BizPrint’s Scan Bureau and their commercial scanning service to assist businesses in the country digitalise their business.

The 2024 PNG Industrial and Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference is a premier platform aimed at bringing together businesses operating in the mining and resources sectors to showcase their latest products, technologies, and innovations. With over one hundred stalls expected to participate, the event promises to be a significant gathering for industry stakeholders, both local and international.

“We are delighted to announce our partnership with the 2024 PNG Industrial and Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference as the Official Print Partner and silver sponsor,” said Peter Goodwin, Remington Group CEO. “Our role in providing printing services for the event underscores our commitment to supporting local businesses and initiatives, and we are excited to contribute to such vital events that bring together businesses from different sectors. The hosting of this event will undoubtedly help boost the visibility of businesses in the mining and resources industries and promote businesses and their services within our country. We look forward to contributing to the success of this important event.”

Ok Tedi Mining Limited recently welcomed 16 new intakes under its Graduate Development Scheme Program.

The cohort completed their respective university programs in 2023 and were selected after meeting the GDS program entry requirements.

General Manager Social Performance and Sustainability, Jesse Pile, welcomed the intakes and urged them to grab this opportunity with open arms.

“We have a high calibre of technically skilled people. Depending on what department you are attached with, you will be working with highly specialised people. Embrace the opportunity by learning from them,” said Mr Pile.

He added that there is a professional career pathway within OTML through the GDS program and highlighted that Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Kedi Ilimbit, is a product of the GDS program.

“Our current MD & CEO is a product of the GDS program including other managers and general managers. So it’s a great program to be a part of,” said Mr Pile.

The 2023 cohort includes graduates from The Papua New Guinea University of Technology (10) and the University of Papua New Guinea (4), and Divine Word University (2).

They represent disciplines in Accounting, Human Resource Management, Environmental Science, Chemistry, Geology, Mining Engineering, Mineral Processing, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical

Engineering, Information & Communication Technology, and Applied Physics & Instrumentation.

Since 1988 OTML has trained 590 graduates under its GDS program.

Santos is pleased to announce the establishment of its new Global Support Centre in PNG, providing a new avenue for leveraging local talent and promoting them worldwide.

The PNG Global Support Centre was officially launched by Prime Minister, James Marape, in Port Moresby recently through what was described as a milestone achievement for Santos in PNG and around the region.

The facility will operate as a hub for providing critical support services to Santos' worldwide operations, using local highly skilled workforce.

In his keynote address, the Prime Minister acknowledged Santos for being consistent as a corporate citizen in PNG and for adapting to a call to add value in its core business though investment in human resources.

“We do acknowledge the global outreach Santos has in respect to mobilising not just capital and resources for projects in PNG but more importantly, mobilising opportunities for the Human Resources that work within us,” Prime Minister Marape said.

Santos Executive Vice President of Eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea, Brett Darley, welcomed and thanked the Prime Minister for his presence in witnessing and officiating at a historical milestone for the Santos workforce in PNG as the company continues to fulfil its strategic intent to help position PNG for future growth opportunities.

“Our intent is that this Global Support Centre will be a catalyst for employment opportunities, harnessing the potential of local talent and creating pathways for skills and leadership development for our workforce into the future,” Mr Darley said.

Mr Darley said the launch of the Global Support Centre is a testament to Santos' long-standing partnership with PNG and its dedication to supporting the country's economic growth as the company remains committed to investing in PNG and fostering a mutually beneficial relationship for years to come.

Santos Country Chair, PNG, Leon Buskens said the PNG Global Support Centre initiative and the new roles that come with it will support the broader Eastern Australia PNG asset portfolio resulting in “in-sourcing” of engineering and maintenance activity as the initial phase, from Australia and overseas contractors to PNG and moreover, direct employment of nationals.

“This initiative is consistent with both our commitment to grow local employment in PNG and complements the PNG Government’s aspirations found in its National Content Policy framework,” Mr Buskens said.

The PNG Global Support Centre aims to increase employment, use local talent to generate opportunities consequently, achieving the company’s ultimate objective which is to shape a brighter future for PNG, filled with opportunity, economic prosperity, and technological superiority.

The primary phase of this project will focus on enhancing PNG's maintenance and engineering services. The Global Support Centre project was a multi-year initiative, and the (Centre’s) tag line "One World, One Team" signifies that though Santos operates in different regions in the world, every individual belongs to One world, and are part of the One (Santos) team.  

The PNG Global Support Centre will operate initially through a team of six national professionals that will be stationed in Port Moresby, with plans to expand to Santos’ Australian operations by July 2024.

As the initiative gains momentum, more national employees will take up these roles.

Atlas Steel PNG has announced that it is now a one-stop shop for steel fabrication in Papua New Guinea.

Before, Atlas Steel PNG would supply raw steel sections to the PNG Steel Fabrication industry. Now it offers a full steel fabrication service to its customers.

Atlas Steel PNG can now fabricate steel from start to finish, and its services are available at both its Lae and Port Moresby factories.

This steel -- be it structural beams, steel plates, or the multitude of other steel shapes that are used in constructing a structure -- come with full 100% traceability and mill test certificates.

“All our steel materials are sourced from reputable steel manufacturers throughout Australasia,” the company said in a statement.

Atlas Steel PNG senior management have over a combined 150 years of experience fabricating steel for such prestigious projects as Porgera Gold Mine, Lihir Gold Mine, OK Tedi Copper Mine, Kutubu Oil Field, PNG LNG and Papua LNG, and other large resource projects.

Its fabrication services include full detailed design of a building, steel fabrication workshop drawings, structural fabrication of all beam sizes, platework fabrication of hoppers and chutes, storage tanks for petrochemical use, as well as associated pipe work and more.

The fully equipped workshops can produce large volumes of steel per week, Atlas Steel PNG says.

“Our welders are qualified to AS1554SP and ASME standards, boilermakers are apprentice served trades people, all under the watchful guidance of fully experienced supervisors,” the company adds.

Atlas Steel PNG workshops can comfortably fabricate 50-plus tonnes of medium structural steel per week.

“We offer a full grit blasting service, with professional blasting to international NAC standards 1 to 4, complimented by airless and conventional and industrial painting with industrial paint epoxies, glass flake and enamel paints,” it adds.

Hundreds of Ark Pacific modular buildings have been assembled across PNG resource sector developments since the company penetrated the local camp accommodation market in 2010.  Over the last decade Ark has substantially increased its international market share in the oil and gas sector – its growth primarily driven by quality and unrivalled production output.  By 2030, it is anticipated that Ark buildings will dominate the camp landscape of the world’s largest natural gas field.

In addition to PNG, Ark camps can be found in Argentina and Russia, as well as in Qatar where it has captured 70 percent of the LNG camp accommodation market. Its growth in Qatar is anticipated to escalate given the government’s announcement in March that it will expand output from North Field West (i.e., part of the world’s biggest gas field) before 2030.

Ark’s first significant project in Qatar was the 2,500-person LGV camp expansion project in 2020.  It is currently in the process of manufacturing a 2,000-person senior staff camp for world-leading engineering company, Technip Energies. With another two-years’ worth of buildings in the production pipeline, Ark has truly cemented itself in the accommodation supply chains of Qatar’s oil and gas mega-contractors.

Cass Ruka, GM Ark Pacific, says that the reason Ark became the camp building market leader so quickly in Qatar was its flat pack building system, specifically its “high quality, together with its rapid manufacturing, delivery, and installation, as well as its safety rating, particularly with regard to fire.”

Ruka confirms that “for a 5,000-person camp it takes us a maximum of three months, upon issuance of a purchase order, to have all components delivered to site.  We also manufacture and deliver in stages which means that the first lot of building componentry is on site in less than one month.”  The speed at which Ark can manufacture and deliver its building systems varies little, irrespective of whether the camp is being built in Qatar, PNG, Sudan, or Argentina.

Ark’s unrivalled production output has been facilitated by factory expansion and an ongoing investment in automation over nearly 20 years. Ruka reports that the company’s automated system of robotic welding for instance, not only ensures the highest quality of welds, but also a 24/7 round-the-clock and 365 day-per-year fabrication capability.

Ark’s modular systems enable a multitude of building configurations, across single or multiple storeys, and on diverse topographies, in even the most remote locations and climate extremes.  In addition to accommodation blocks housing literally thousands of workers, some of the other types of buildings Ark has provided its resource clients with, include recreation centres, medical facilities, office complexes, kitchen and dining facilities, commissary buildings, maintenance workshops, and laboratories.

On Monday February 5, 2024, the Remington Group announced the names of the candidates who have been successful in their applications to join their 2024 Technical Apprenticeship and Graduate Development Programs.

The applicants were selected after a long and comprehensive screening process, with well over 200 expressions of interest being received for the Graduate Development and the Apprenticeship Programs. The Remington Group programs have attracted some of the best candidates that Papua New Guinea has to offer in their chosen fields of study.  

The three selected candidates for the Graduate Development Program are Megan Bega, Chris Kuras and John Anthony. These three graduates will be attached to our Group Shared Services team on a rotational basis, working closely with our several business units, allowing them to gain a deep understanding of our business.

As for our unique, market leading Technical Apprenticeship Program, we identified four successful candidates and they are Esron Thomal, Leslie Pombo, Tonar Olk and Jack Kalogo. These gentlemen will join our Remington Technology and FX Business Centre Service Teams as Apprentice Service Technicians.

“As we unveil the exceptional talents joining our 2024 Development Programs, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Megan, Chris, John, Esron, Leslie, Tonar, and Jack. Their dedication and ‘can-do’ attitude align perfectly with Remington’s culture and work ethic. Their success marks the beginning of a transformative journey for them, and I am confident they will contribute significantly to our shared success. Welcome aboard, future leaders!”  Remington Group CEO Peter Goodwin.

The programs are developed to provide an opportunity for recent graduates from universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to receive hands-on training and learning experience by providing them with exposure to both corporate and technical spaces. Then our trainees are matched with a mentor who is an industry expert.

Group HR Manager for Remington, Christopher Membung said, “Both programs provide a pathway into building a meaningful career for the successful applicants, as long as they commit to hard work and persistence.”

We congratulate the seven successful candidates as they embark on their professional journey to build the foundation of their career pathway with Remington Group.

Bishops is proud to announce the launch of their highly-anticipated updated Industrial & Safety Catalogue. With a commitment to delivering excellence and meeting the diverse needs of customers across the region, Bishop's new catalogue showcases a wide array of exclusive products and services.

Bishops is PNG’S leading industrial tool and safety equipment supplier, providing high-quality goods and services across six branches in Papua New Guinea, their wide range of exclusive products and personalised solutions have been tailored to help grow PNG’s industrial output for more than 50 years.

The much-anticipated catalogue features over 15,000 hand-selected products, collated into 15 categories for easy reference and sourced from over 100 leading brands, making it the largest catalogue Bishops has ever produced and a valuable go-to purchasing tool for industry. Containing detailed product descriptions and specifications, coloured images and Bishops part numbers, researching and ordering products has never been easier!

In addition to their diverse product offerings, Bishops remains dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and fostering strong relationships within the local community. With a team of knowledgeable professionals and a customer-centric approach, Bishops aims to exceed expectations and remain the go-to destination for premium goods and services in Papua New Guinea.

“This Catalogue was made specifically for Papua New Guinea”, said Len Pianta, General Manager of Bishops, “and is a must have for any purchasing staff, workshop managers or project coordinators.”

The launch of Bishop's updated catalogue represents an exciting milestone in the company's journey to remain the largest and most trusted supplier of all the “little things” through quality products and memorable experiences. Customers can explore the full range of offerings in the catalogue online or visit their nearest Bishops branch to discover exclusive deals and promotions.

For more information about Bishops and to view the latest catalogue, please visit https://www.bishopbros.com.pg/ or find your local branch.

Gearhart United and Redback™ Drilling tools are combining to form Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing. 

Gearhart United is the premier designer and manufacturer of oilfield equipment and custom manufacturing operating two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Wingfield, South Australia, and Moomba, South Australia. Redback™ Drilling Tools is a leader in Roller Reamer technology and delivers drilling optimization solutions worldwide. The unprecedented reliability and quality of the Redback™ Roller Reamer revolutionized the industry and has been the go-to bottom-hole assembly tool for many drilling operations around the world since the late 1980s.

As part of a new strategic direction under the SGS Group umbrella, Gearhart United and Redback™ Drilling tools will be rebranded to unify into one company, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing. 

Unifying two companies under one brand

To unify the brands, the two companies are combining into one, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing. The company has over 40 years of experience with a reputation for superior quality combined with unparalleled reliability, proving how valuable innovation and trustworthiness are within the drilling market.

The company has won significant market share in many of the key drilling operations worldwide and earned the preferred supplier status with many of the world’s leading oil companies and major drilling service companies. Its global presence provides products and services across multiple countries, service centres and agents.

Passionate about innovation

By developing specialized reaming and torque-reducing tools, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing aims to push the envelope on drilling performance. Its torque reduction capabilities and resultant vibration reduction capabilities ensures products worthy of their position in BHAs, where they enhance the performance of, and add life to other critical BHA components. 

Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing commits to excellence with a focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions as shown through their strong presence in PNG. Currently, 60% of ongoing projects with major drilling servicing companies and exploration firms within the country work with the company. Trehis involves Redback™ supporting enhanced drilling capabilities by providing state-of-the-art drilling tools, plus a comprehensive suite of services. Combining the two companies into one clear brand enables stronger resonance within the market and enhances customers' trust in these world leaders of oilfield engineering and design.

“Reaffirming our commitment to innovative practices, customer satisfaction, and leadership.”

Bronte Gales, General Manager for Industries, said: “This rebranding initiative is not a simple name or logo change, it's a symbol of our reaffirmed commitment to innovative practices, customer satisfaction, and leadership within our market. This rebranding mirrors our ambition to uphold our status as the industry pioneer in Roller Reamer technology, as we have since the 1980s.”

Clint Russell, Business Manager for Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing, said: “This rebranding will help focus interest on our services, tools and professional personnel that support both traditional and non-traditional energy markets while we continue to drive innovation.”

With the company continuously looking to improve and innovate, the new brand identity will help fortify the trust and confidence that customers all over the world have placed in Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing.  You can count on Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing to be a trusted partner, supporting your business ventures and driving sustainable growth.

Contact the Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing team today to learn more about their operations in PNG and how they can best assist you in achieving your goals.

A former Trukai Smart Farmer Program participant has been recognised as a model rice farmer following his initiative and innovation to incorporate best farming practices in his village, making him the recipient of a Village Sustainability Kit (VSK).

The Village Sustainability Kit is a rice farming kit that is given to genuine rice farmers under Trukai Industries’ Small Holder Rice Development Program to encourage them to develop their rice farming ventures.

Noah Taugaloidi from Wamira Village, Milne Bay Province was the proud recipient of the VSK demonstrating Trukai Industries’ significant stride towards sustainable agriculture practices.

Trukai Industries, through its Small Holder Rice Development Program, not only provides the Village Sustainability Kit but also offers technical expertise and paddy market access. The VSK includes essential tools such as a solar rice mill kit, power tiller, manual seeders, knapsacks, sickles and rice seedlings.

To become a model farmer under Trukai’s Small Holder Development Program, candidates must manage a hectare or more of rice fields, displaying both expertise and a commitment to rice cultivation. In addition, farmers must not only excel in their own fields but also serve as influential figures in their communities, inspiring and guiding their community to adopt best practices.

The Village Sustainability Kits are equipped to cater to the unique needs of rice farmers transitioning from sustainable rice farming to commercial. The company has chosen model farmers like Taugaloidi and his community to act as caretakers of the equipment, with a focus on fostering this transition.

Trukai Industries’ Rice Development Manager, Aina Davis while presenting the kit emphasised on the transformative impact it will have on their farming practices. She urged the farmers to take ownership of the VSKs, emphasizing that the support provided by Trukai Industries would prove beneficial in the long run.

"Wamira, this is the time for you to become commercialized rice farmers and I urge you all to take ownership of this farming program and the Village Sustainability Kits, which will help you in the long run," said Davis.

Taugaloidi expressed his gratitude for Trukai Industries' support, acknowledging the company's recognition of their efforts as village rice farmers. He also highlighted the positive impact the village sustainability kit will have on his community and the skillsets imparted by Trukai through its Smart Farmer Program.

“It has been a long time coming, and I know that the Smart Farmer program is a game changer in the agriculture industry, it gives knowledge back to our local people. The Village Sustainability Kits and the knowledge I have gained will greatly impact my community.

CEO of Trukai Industries, Alan Preston, highlighted the importance of the Small Holder Rice Development Program.

“The aim of this program is to support food security by maximising local rice production. It also helps to equip small holder rice farmers as they transition into semi commercial farmers then into commercial rice farmers,” said Preston.

Wamira Village traditionally has an irrigated gardening technique where they have used this to grow taro. By utilising this established technique, the villages now have an advantage to grow rice and the donation of the VSK is an added bonus to assist them with their rice growing.

Paramount Chief of Wamira Village, Watson Taubobori said, “Traditionally our ancestors redirected the main river, which travels miles inland, bringing fresh water that flowed directly to nourish our taro gardens. This system is still being used today.”

“It was as if we were always meant to grow rice here at Wamira, and now with our Village Sustainability Kit plus the training provided through the Smart Farmer Program, our people can utilize rice farming, eliminating the long travel to go to town to buy just one bag of rice,” said Taubobori.

Trukai Industries has distributed VSKs to genuine rice farmers since 2011 under its various rice development programs and it aims to identify more genuine rice farmers through its Smart Farmer Program. This transformative training is crafted to enhance the capabilities of local rice farmers, guiding them as they transition from conventional dry land to modern irrigated rice farming methods.

Trukai's profound impact extends over 30 years of significant investment in rice research and technology. This long-standing commitment underscores the company's dedication to enhancing the standards of rice cultivation, fostering a resilient and prosperous agricultural landscape in Papua New Guinea.

Samantha moved on from KOI in 2014 and joined Oil Search as a Maintenance Data Entry Clerk in the planning team and that is where she discovered her passion for maintenance planning.

In January 2024, Samantha was promoted by Santos to the Maintenance Planner role, a role that has been newly created for the Global Support Centre in Port Moresby.

Cameron Robinson, who is the Maintenance Planning Lead for Santos’ Upstream Operations in Brisbane said: “Over the last nine years, Samantha has supported Maintenance and Operations with various tasks ranging from drafting of work permits for maintenance leading hands, efficient ordering of parts for critical maintenance works, entering of turbine engine run-hour weekly readings to SAP resource loading. We have found Samantha to be highly resourceful, proficient with numbers and her ability to analyse data and effectively plan preventative maintenance work orders for specific production fields ensures we comply with best practice.”

“Her new role is critical to our success in ensuring that operational equipment and plant uptime, cost and scheduled targets are met. We have every confidence in her ability and count ourselves lucky to have her on our team.”

Samantha reflected on her recent promotion and said: “This is definitely the highlight of my career and a milestone for me and my family apart from joining Oil Search back in 2014, and now Santos. I owe this accomplishment to my mother, my older brother and all those who supported me along the way, and I know my father will be proud.

“I believe my attention to detail and drive for perfection will add value to the business as maintenance planning must be done right, the first time in order to prevent unnecessary downtime for the execution team when they work on equipment in the various production fields. This in turn prevents any major loss to production. This is a dream come true as I’ve always wanted to become a planner. I really enjoy what I do, and I get to work amongst some of the greatest people who have become family.

“Santos has given me the tools and resources necessary to reach my full potential and what’s more is I am able to take good care of my mother and continue to give back to my brothers, including paying tuition fees for my nieces and nephews. An added bonus is that I can now confidently pursue other ambitions such as return to school. This time, I plan to take up a technical course that will add further value to my current role. With Santos, I know it’s possible.”

Samantha joins the first team of six national professionals including Edwin Michael, John Rekeken, Romba Kaun, Jason Katato and Nathan N’Druwin who will support Santos’ global operations through the Global Support Centre in PNG.

Santos Country Chair PNG, Leon Buskens said: “The initiative is consistent with both our commitment to grow local employment in PNG and the PNG Government’s National Content Policy. The new roles will support the broader Eastern Australia PNG asset portfolio and result in “in sourcing” of engineering and maintenance activity from Australia and overseas contractors to PNG resulting in more direct employment of nationals. These support services are currently being outsourced to India and will now begin to transition to Port Moresby from Cooper Basin, Moomba, and Curtis Island. Despite the challenges we have also in terms of reliable data and power in PNG, the establishment of the Global Support Centre and commissioning of this new team of expert planners are testament to the commitment of Santos to PNG and its people.”

The Global Support Centre aims to foster and showcase the potential of our nation’s workforce and provide meaningful pathways for technical skills and leadership development, building expertise in-country and exporting that expertise to the Santos world.

Ok Tedi Mining Limited officially launched the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) Extension Review Project 2024 - 2025 on 17th February and commenced engagement meetings on 19th February.

The CMCA Extension Review Project will be conducted from 2024 to 2025 with the aim to obtain consent from the 158 mine impacted villages to extend mine operations from 2026 to 2033.

The project will review the entire CMCA agreement between OTML and the eight CMCA regions and mine villages, with a particular emphasis on the total benefits packages.

OTML Manager Community Relations and Sustainability, Jeffery Tom, elaborated on the importance of the project with a focus on aligning community initiatives with the company’s new vision.

“OTML operates under a social license which is the CMCA that has been enacted by Parliament as part of the 11th Supplemental Agreement”.

“The CMCA extension is commonly known as a Mine Life Extension (MLE) agreement and the review is crucial to ensure the community is well informed before consenting to an extension of the agreement period for another eight years,” Mr Tom said.

He added that the consent given by the communities, gives OTML the social license to operate (SLTO) and help secure the interest of the communities and the country that depends on the mine.

“So it is in the best interest of the impacted communities and beneficiaries to seek continuity of the benefits that is derived from Ok Tedi; to have the mine secured so Ok Tedi will continue to operate. This is why the CMCA Extension Review Project is important,” he stressed.

The review process will include village meetings, regional meetings, and working group meetings.

Village meetings will be conducted in all 158 CMCA and Mine villages while the regional meetings will be conducted at regional centres and will involve nominated village representatives and other key stakeholders.

The working group meetings will be between the OTML management, other key stakeholders and regional delegates elected from the village meetings, which also include regional women and youth presidents.

All the village meetings are facilitated by Independent Facilitators, and the meeting process is observed by three (3) highly esteemed Papua New Guinean Independent Observers. Officers from OTML Community Relations & Sustainability Department and Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) will provide support to the Independent Facilitators and the Observers.

During the CMCA extension review period, relevant State Agencies and stakeholders who have an interest in OTML operations will participate at different stages of the meeting.

The CMCA agreement was established in 2001 with the signing of the first agreement, which was subsequently enacted by the PNG Parliament through the 9th Supplemental Agreement.

The Ok Tedi Mine is a 100% PNG owned company with the State of PNG through the Kumul Minerals Holding Limited owning 67%, while the remaining 33% is owned by three Western Province entities; the Fly River Provincial Government (MROT2) 12%, CMCA communities (MRCMCA) 12% and Mine Villages (MRSM) 9%.

Steamships is pleased to announce the appointment of Christine Kasou, who joins the Board of Directors, effective 1 March 2024, adding to a growing number of young Papua New Guinean representatives in leadership positions within the Company. She is the third Papua New Guinean director to be appointed. 

Ms Kasou holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Papua New Guinea and has over 17-years of experience in Papua New Guinea’s oil and gas industry. She worked extensively in contracting and procurement functions, legal and compliance, gas projects development and people and culture.

Ms. Kasou’s appointment underscores Steamships’ commitment to supporting local talent and empowering the next generation of leaders, in the region. The Company believes in the importance of fostering a diverse leadership team that reflects the communities it serves, challenge traditional gender norms creating a stronger advocacy base for women in the corporate sector.  

“At Steamships, we pride ourselves in being progressive and inclusive.” Said Managing Director Rupert Bray, “We are thrilled to be welcoming Christine into the fold. With her wealth of experience, and impressive strategic background, we are confident in her ability to join us in our journey in growth.”

Christine began her career as a commercial lawyer in private practice in 2001 with Gadens Lawyers (now Dentons) in Port Moresby. In 2006, Christine joined Oil Search (PNG) Limited, now a subsidiary of Santos Limited.

“I’m very honoured to have joined the Steamships Board of Directors”, says Ms. Kasou. “It’s a reputable business with a deep-seeded history in PNG. I believe in the power of diversity and collaboration to drive innovation and sustainability, and I’m excited to be part of a team that values these principles.”

Steamships looks forward to Ms. Kasou’s valuable contributions as the company continues to innovate and adapt to the evolving landscape of Papua New Guinea.

Improving access to healthcare is at the heart of a three-year partnership agreement signed recently by Interplast and PanAust.

Interplast sends teams of volunteer plastic and reconstructive surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals to provide life-changing surgery and medical training in 17 countries across the Asia Pacific region.

The partnership launched on Tuesday afternoon at PanAust’s Brisbane office, commits PanAust to pay $120, 000 per year for three years to deliver a range of far-reaching health benefits to the East and West Sepik Provinces of Papua New Guinea.

The partnership will formally commence with a series of health assessments in Sepik communities near the Frieda River Project site, followed by scheduled surgeries at the Wewak’s General Hospital where a highly skilled surgical team will undertake reconstructive surgical procedures. It is expected that up to 60 people, including Frieda River community members, will receive much-needed surgical care during each visit.

Additionally, the collaboration aims to enhance the capability of local surgical teams through capacity building, ensuring rapid and effective medical response in the event of accidents or other emergencies.

Daling Zheng, Managing Director and CEO of PanAust said the agreement is a significant commitment towards improving healthcare accessibility and outcomes for those living in remote and often inaccessible communities.

“In Papua New Guinea our focus is on improved health and education services and capacity-building with an emphasis on the maintenance and establishment of infrastructure to support these services.

“We are here for the long haul and acknowledge our responsibility to support current and future generations. We believe that access to health is a fundamental right, and we are proud to play a role in ensuring that right is upheld in remote communities near the Frieda River Project.

“Through this MoU with Interplast, we are deepening our impact and know that we are bettering the lives of so many by delivering life-changing surgeries and education,” Mr Zheng said.

PanAust and Interplast have had an enduring relationship with the two first collaborating in 2012 to deliver reconstructive surgery to people in Xieng Khouang Province in Laos.

Since 2012, more than 250 people in the Asia Pacific have received life-changing clinical care, more than 50 clinicians have received clinical training opportunities, and hospital and health systems in two countries have benefited from PanAust and Interplast’s support.

Interplast’s Director of International Programs, Jess Hill, said that: “Interplast is pleased to be continuing our partnership with PanAust which will enable us to deliver much-needed specialist clinical services to the populations of East and West Sepik Provinces, as well as training and mentoring for local medical and nursing personnel. Both children and adults will have access to life-changing surgery, and our local counterparts will build their clinical skills, which will in turn enable them to provide better treatment to their community.’’

An exciting milestone under the Youth Opportunities program was completed last week. Thirty-nine participants made up of nine Kutubu Local Level Youth Development Council (KLLYDC) executives and 30 representatives from 18 wards attended a week-long consultation workshop. The representatives were from a range of sectors including education, health, sports, local council, police, church, women's and men's groups from the Lake Kutubu area.

The KLLYDC executives and ward representatives spent the time developing the youth council constitution and 5- year development plan. Key partners that also attended this workshop to support KLLYDC included the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA), Department of National Planning & Monitoring (DNPM), Nipa-Kutubu District Development Authority, Kutubu Local Level Government, Santos PNG Stakeholder Engagement, and Santos Foundation. These partners presented key policies and programs for youth development and provided guidance with aligning and including these key strategies in the KLLYDC 5-year development plan. The Voice Inc. facilitated the consultation and encouraged the young executives in planning for a better Kutubu.

A key element of this workshop was also having the Santos Foundation Gender Program Manager’s involvement to ensure the voices of women and girls were included.

At the end of the week, the draft constitution was signed and handed over to NYDA officials to table at the NYDA Board for vetting and approval. The 5-year development plan is being refined with stakeholders.

Upon closing, David William, KLLYDC Chairman thanked Santos Foundation saying "Santos Foundation, with its unwavering support, enabled the NYDA youth governing body to conduct elections and establish the Kutubu Local Level Youth Development Council. This council, represented by 18 ward members within Kutubu, is a crucial platform for the long-overlooked youth of Kutubu to emerge as leaders, contributing to the betterment of our communities, wards, and families. With the invaluable partnership of the Santos Foundation, I am confident that we are laying the groundwork for a brighter future."