Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG)

This change in name comes after the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance Amendment Bill 2023, passed in Parliament today.

The bill will rectify legal oversights, challenges and gaps in specific provisions of the 2017 Act.

In his speech, Public Service Minister Joe Sungi said, “The first impediment area of concern was to do with the transitional provision of the Act that regulated that transitional period from the PNG Institute of Public Administration to the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance which were all achieved and not applicable at present.”

The participants are particularly public servants from various government departments and agencies in NCD.

PILAG Chief Executive Officer, Michael Barobe, encouraged the graduates to perform well and make use of the skills and knowledge received.

Acting Group CEO for Teacher’s Savings & Loan Society, Igimu Momo and Police representative from the Royal PNG Constabulary, both acknowledged the initiative and spoke about business opportunities, leadership and to start small and believe in yourself.

The 35 students (8 females and 27 males) were awarded with certificates in Leadership and Governance, a course that has been funded and supported by the SP Foundation Incorporation since 2018.

The graduates are public servants working in nine different agencies and provincial governments who attended the course delivered by PILAG at its Highlands regional training center in Mt Hagen.

The Academy is a partnership between UN Women and the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG). Dame Carol encouraged women to work with men as allies as they seek to advance their political careers.

“Let men be your allies on gender equality issues. It is important to see our male counterparts as partners in development. We should work with men. If you find one opposing your ideas on gender equality, walk to another one and get him to see and understand your view,” she Dame Carol.

Resis was grateful that the PILAG training program will be delivered to public servants in the district.

This initiative was realized when PILAG partnered with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Administration and the Unggai/Bena District Administration to come up with a funding of K45,000 which was handed over to the senior officer of  PILAG in Goroka on Friday last week. The funding will kick-start the public servants’ training programmes in Eastern Highlands province.

The academy is known as “Political Leadership for Women”.

This follows a Memorandum of Understanding that was signed in August this year between the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance and UN Women to promote women’s political participation and leadership in the country.

UN Women Country Representative, Themba Kulua said women have always played an important role in our society.

“However, due to cultural practices they have always been over-looked when they run for elections at both the national and Local Level Government.”

Present to witness the ceremony was Police Commissioner David Manning.

Commissioner Manning congratulated his officers for choosing to sacrifice their time from work and family to upskill themselves, adding that personal development is an individual’s choice. 

The graduates are officers within the operations and administration wing of the constabulary.

“We in the constabulary see the need to better ourselves in making sure that we serve our people,” he stated.

The partnership being established under UN Women’s Women Make the Change programme, focuses on supporting and promoting women’s political participation and leadership in PNG. This would be implemented with support from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.

The Political Leadership Academy for Women will work closely with a small cohort of women in each cycle to provide those who are already in subnational political positions with training, skills building, mentorship and learning exchange opportunities.

The 34 graduates were the first to be awarded the new Diploma of Leadership and Governance at the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (PILAG) on Friday, April 26^th.

Among the graduates was Margaret Kumbun, an elementary coordinator at Nuku District in West Sepik, who said it was a privilege to have learnt alongside public service peers from around the country.

“It’s quite inspiring learning about the importance of leadership, governance and our roles,” she said.

Funded by the Australian and PNG governments, the institution is focused on enhancing public sector performance with a particular emphasis on the extension of programs to the subnational level through regional training centres, and delivery in the regions, provinces and districts.

Minister for Public Service, Elias Kapavore, said the institution provides organisational needs-based training focused on ethical leadership, strategic planning, corporate services and management processes.