News

A cohort of emerging and established women leaders from Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands commenced the PNG Institute of Directors (PNGID) Director Development Program on 6 May 2025. For the first time, the program features a dedicated module on state-owned enterprise (SOE) governance, developed with the support of the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).

The inclusion of the Solomon Islands cohort—in PNG as part of a week-long pilot initiative to expand the pipeline of qualified women for future SOE board roles—underscores the regional significance of this new training. Their participation was supported by the Government of Australia through the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership for Governance.

“This is an important moment for PNGID,” said Megan Taureka-Andrew, CEO of PNGID. “We are excited to launch our first ever SOE governance module with this incredible cohort of women from both Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. It will set a new standard for how we prepare directors to lead with confidence, integrity, and impact in state-owned enterprises.”

The launch of the SOE module was marked by a special event at the offices of Kumul Consolidated Holdings (KCH) on 5 May, with opening remarks from KCH Managing Director Professor David Kavanamur; Golda Gerora, Director of Post PNG; Emma Waiwai, Director of KCH; and Jane Hardy from the Australian High Commission.

“Equipping women with the tools to lead effectively in state-owned enterprises is not just timely—it’s essential for driving better performance and more inclusive decision-making,” said Sarah Boxall, PSDI Economic Empowerment of Women Specialist. “This Solomon Islands pilot program and the new SOE training module both mark important steps toward strengthening governance across the Pacific and fostering greater gender diversity in public enterprise leadership.”

The Director Development Program includes essential corporate governance topics such as the roles and responsibilities of directors, board strategy, financial oversight, and risk management. The new SOE module builds on this foundation by applying governance principles to real-world SOE scenarios, equipping participants to navigate the complex ethical and strategic challenges faced by SOE boards.

This week’s program also features a keynote address from Tamzin Wardley, Chair of Nasfund and Westpac, and a former Director of Water PNG, who will share her insight and experience leading major boards in PNG, and a networking event for the visiting Solomon Islands women to meet with Papua New Guinea’s women business leaders.

PSDI is an ADB technical assistance program undertaken in partnership with the governments of Australia and New Zealand. It supports ADB’s 14 Pacific DMCs to improve the enabling environment for business and to achieve inclusive, private sector-led economic growth.

Image 1: KCH Managing Director Professor David Kavanamur and KCH Director Emma Waiwai (centre) with Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands women business leaders at the launch of the new SOE module of the PNG Institute of Directors (PNGID) Director Development Program.

Image 2: Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands business leaders attending the PNG Institute of Directors (PNGID) Director Development Program.

Image 3: Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands business leaders are participating in the PNG Institute of Directors (PNGID) Director Development Program.