MEDIA RELEASE
21 November 2006
For immediate release
ALUMNI LEADERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT
More than 200 Papua New Guineans who have undertaken secondary or tertiary studies in Australia will attend a two-day Alumni conference on ‘Leadership and National Development’ in Port Moresby this week.
Some topics for discussion over the two days will include ‘Supporting PNG’s Economic Growth through Leadership, Partnership, and People-to-People engagement’; ‘Leadership for Development’; and ‘Leadership and Gender Issues in PNG’s Development’.
Participants will come from around the country representing private industry, church, government, and civil society.
“We’ve got people who have come back from their studies to take up roles in leadership positions in health, finance, education, planning, and service delivery. We are expecting two days of dynamic and vigorous discussions, and a lot of it is going to be about why PNG needs strong leadership to develop and be prosperous,” said Ulato Avei, Acting Secretary for Department of National Planning and Monitoring .
There will also be presentations on the Government’s Public Sector Workforce Development Initiative (PSWDI), and the Provincial Performance Improvement Initiative (PPII). Conference speakers will include the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Paulius Matane, GCL, GCMG, KSt.J; His Excellency Mr Michael Potts, Australian High Commissioner to PNG.
Mr Potts said: “Australia’s relationship with PNG is one of our deepest and most enduring. It is strong on many levels, including the people-to-people links formed by the large number of Papua New Guineans that study in Australia.
“I would encourage graduates attending this conference to form an Alumni Association. This would further strengthen the links between our two countries and would also give the graduates a forum to contribute to debates about PNG's future."
Supporting education delivery and offering opportunities for study in Australia are ways in which the Australian Government supports economic growth and stability in the region, and helps to increase social demand for good governance.
Notes to Editor:
• Since 1999, almost 1,000 Papua New Guineans have been awarded Australian Development Scholarships (ADS).
• Other award programs, such as the Australian Council for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) awards, have been offered separately but concurrently with ADS.
• Since Independence, thousands of Papua New Guineans studied under various Australian Government scholarship award programs such as the Secondary School Scholarships Program (SSSP), the John Crawford Scholarships, and other scholarship award programs.
• More information on scholarships within the aid program can also be obtained from the AusAID website; go to the following address: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/keyaid/education.cfm
For more information, contact: Ms Lydia Rau, Alumni Manager, PATTAF - Ph: 321 1766; fax: 321 1828; email: [email protected]