Papua New Guinea’s oil and gas exploration and development company Oil Search has appointed Mel Togolo as a director with its board.
Togolo replaces Bart Philemon as a director of the company whose retirement becomes effective from Sept 30, 2016.
Oil Search chairman Rick Lee acknowledged the valuable contribution Philemon has provided to the Board of Oil Search since his appointment as a Director in November 2012 and welcomed Togolo onboard.
Lee said Togolo brings a wealth of knowledge on PNG from a distinguished career spanning senior roles in industry and government, not only in Papua New Guinea but also in Australia and the Solomon Islands.
Togolo is currently the PNG Country Manager for Nautilus Minerals and prior to that was head of corporate affairs at Placer Dome Niugini.
He was a founding member of the Business Council of Papua New Guinea and was the President of that Council for more than six years.
Togolo is currently a non-executive director of Nasfund and has previously served on the boards of a number of leading PNG companies.
In addition, the board has also appointed Fiona Harris as Director in replacement of Dr Ziggy Switkowski.
Dr Switkowski, the former Telstra boss and current Suncorp and NBN Co chairman, has notified the Board that he intends to retire as a Director at the end of 2016, to allow him to focus on other board commitments.
Harris was previously a member of the Board from March 2013 to December 2015, when she resigned to manage a personal health issue.
Following completion of treatment, Harris has accepted the Board’s offer to return as a Director.
Harris has agreed to rejoin the Board upon Dr Switkowski’s retirement.
Shareholder approval for the appointment of Togolo and Harris to the Board will be sought at the 2017 Annual Meeting.