Firstly, I would like to send my congratulations and encouragement to the KSI executives for such a tough job done well in the organizing and the preparations for the conference. Let it be known that the Kumul Students WorldWide are whatching and Iam impressed.

Those of us not in Australia but in Europe, ASIA and US are very keen in the resolutions and eventualities from the conference and I am confident that the executives will pursue such resolutions of the conference.

Secondly, I would humbly suggest to the Executive to request the Participants(speakers) to make available abstacts and a brief summary of their presentations prior to the event. This will encourage two things, 1. Those of us who are not in Australia will have information to keep us informed of the concensus of KSI and its endavours. 2. I am not questioning the participants capabilities, but as professional, such abstracts must be presented before conferences to gauge the depth of ideas whilst given opportunities for the attendees, and those of us who are not there, to think about it before the commencement of the conference, hence allowing the confrence to be more interactive and a tad higher intellectually. Furthermore, with the abstracts and summaries, the executives, may allow some email question from us to be directed to the participants as a path to greater support and consolidation of KSI network worldwide but most importantly, to stimulate intellectual discussion pertined to the well-being, strategic and ORDERED developement of our Nation.

Thankyou and congratulation again for a job well done. Keep it Up.

Concerned Pngean

BACKGROUND AND SPEAKER ABSTRACTS.

1. Mr Mike Manning – Director of the Institute of National Affairs
Background: Mr Manning has been a resident of PNG for over 30 years. He is a member of the Transparency International (PNG) and the Director of the national think tank – the Institute of National Affairs
Title of Paper: Need for Intellectual Involvement of Papua New Guinea Tertiary Students in National Affairs
Abstract: This address forms part of the Vice-Chancellors series of lectures to students at the University of PNG. The purpose of the address is to stimulate discussion and hopefully, into the future, generate greater involvement by tertiary students in the intellectual affairs of the nation.
The paper progress to highlight the stagnating state of infrastructure such as deteriorating rural health and the alarming growth in population rates.
The paper issues a challenge to leadership through a concerted response to intellectual stimulus provided by such forums as the Waigani Seminars and KSI Conventions.


2. Mr Carlistius Mari – Commercial Manager, PNG Harbours Board Ltd.
Background: Mr Mari is a qualified accountant and has worked held various corporate positions within the industry. Mr Mari completed his MBA at the University of Queensland in 2003 and returned to PNG to be appointed as the Commercial Manager, Harbours Board.
Title of Paper: Commercialisation and Privatisation – a PNG Harbours Board Perspective.
Brief: Mr Mari will be presenting on the current issues faced by PNG’s human resource development policy in terms of the impact of human resource and training on development, speaking specifically from the perspective of one of PNG’s largest statutory authorities – the PNG Harbours Board.

3. Mr Paul Baxter – non-resident Commissioner with the PNGICCC and the former Australian Partner in charge of Economics and Markets Division of PriceWaterHouseCoopers.
Background: Mr Baxter enjoys a long association with PNG dating back to pre-independence days. Mr Baxter was involved in the establishment of the former Price Controllers office as well as other institutions in PNG. He assisted in the determination of the major macro-economic input and output model, which is currently used by the Bank of PNG to date. Mr Baxter was also involved in the establishment of current PNGICCC. He is currently the Senior Commissioner of the ACT Regulator (ICRC), an Associate Commissioner with ACCC and a non-resident Commissioner with PNGICCC.
Title of Paper: Economic Reform: but Where are the Skill Resources?"
Abstract: The presentation will be discussing the link between economic reform of the economy after 30 years of Independence, the shortage of in-country skills to handle the reform process, and the role of the next generation of business, public service and political leaders and managers in taking the reform forward.
The presentation will further serve as a challenge to those attending concerning their responsibilities to the nation and the need to break out of the current mould and pioneer a paradigm shift in human resource management and development.

4. Mr Scott Roberts - – Managing Director of JDA Wokman, and member of the Executive Committee of the PNG/Australia Business Council.
Mr Roberts has not made an abstract of his address available.

5. Mr Bonapas Onguglo - UNCTAD
Background: Mr Bonapas Onguglo is an Economic Affairs Officer with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, in Geneva since 1986. He works in the Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities, dealing with Trade Negotiations and Commercial Diplomacy. He has over 18 years experience in multilateral trade negotiations; regional trade and economic integration among developing countries; trade policy formulation; and trade-related technical assistance and institutional and human capacity building. He advices in particular African and Pacific countries on WTO issues, including the current Doha round of negotiations) and the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement. He recently prepared a comprehensive trade policy document for PNG, and has authored several articles.
Title of Paper: Mr Onguglo will be speaking on the sub-theme of Foreign Intervention (Assistance) Issues – Capacity Building
Mr Onguglo has not provided an abstract.

6. Mr Anthony Yauieb – Student Speaker (ANU)
Background: Mr Yauieb formerly held the position of First Assistant Secretary for the Economic Policy Division. Mr Yauieb completed his Masters in Economics for Development. Mr Yauieb is currently a PhD scholar at the Asia Pacific School of economics and government
at the Australian National University.
Title of Paper: Mr Yauieb will be speaking on the sub-theme of Foreign Intervention Issues – the ECP.
Abstract: This paper looks at the non-policing component of the Enhanced Cooperation Program between Papua New Guinea and Australia, aimed at improving financial management. The paper examines the motives underlying the genesis of this component, and how it endeavors to build "capacity" within the context of broader public sector reforms that focus on improving budgetary performance. The different forms of intervention are examined and the paper tries to identify some of the emerging issues in relation to ensuring that the efforts of the ECP are beneficial overall and sustained over the longer term.

7. Dr Goa Tau – Chief Physician of PNG and Medical Officer In Charge of ARV Pilot Program.
Background: Dr Tau has been heavily involved in the HIV/AIDS programme in PNG both within the area of policy drafting and implementation. He has also represented PNG on various international meetings on HIV/AIDS policy and clinical approaches.
Title of Paper: The Impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Abstract: Dr Tau’s address will discuss the HIV/AIDS situation in PNG since the first was detected in Port Moresby in 1987, the current situation analysis and the future of HIV/AIDS in PNG from the national viewpoint. There will be some emphasis on the ARV pilot project and the constraints and benefits anticipated.

8. Ms Maxine Whittaker – Senior Technical Advisor – AUSAID
Background: Maxine Whittaker, MBBS, MPH’86, PhD, is an international public health professional working as the Senior Technical Coordinator for the Government of Papua New Guinea’s Health Services Support Program, funded by the Australian Government. She is the Senior Associate – International health with JTAI (Jane Thomason and Associates).
Title of Paper: MS Whittaker will be presenting on the HIV/AIDS epidemic from a foreign assistance perspective.
Ms Whittaker has not provided an abstract of her address.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PLEASE NOTE: I have taken some liberties with the content of the abstracts in this document, albeit relatively small ones. These liberties were necessitated by the need to modify the abstracts to suit this particular audience. I have, at all times, attempted to stay true to the main content of each speakers address.

- Elvina -

Thank you, Concerned PNGean. All points raised are duly noted. A report covering the proceedings of the convention will be released in due course.

Cheers,
Elvina.

Was that report ever finished or released?