KTF celebrates a new generation of young leaders for PNG
Last night, Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) welcomed eleven new young leaders to its Archer Leadership Development Program, and graduated the 2022 cohort at a special ceremony in Port Moresby. Present at the celebrations were Motu Koita Chairman and NCD Deputy Governor Hon. Dadi Toka Jnr, Governor of Oro Province, Hon. Gary Juffa, Acting Australian High Commissioner, Dr Joanne Loundes, Vice Chancellor of UPNG, Professor Frank Griffin, and representatives from KTF’s board, Mr Peter Aitsi, Ms Roselyne Kenneth, and Dr Genevieve Nelson. Also in attendance were Anna Madgwick, Head of the Newcrest Sustainability Fund and Asi Nauna, Chief of Staff of Kina Bank – who alongside the Fred P. Archer trust managed by Perpetual Trustees, generously support the program.
The Archer Leadership Development Program is an annual scholarship and leadership development program that finds and fosters the next generation of leaders. Now in its 13th year, the Archer program supports young leaders to grow and develop in their leadership capabilities. KTF guides the Archer Leaders on their leadership journey, supporting them throughout the year with mentoring, tutoring, boarding fees, education and professional development resource support, work experience and assists them to implement community projects in a community of choice.
The 11 young leaders were selected from tertiary institutions across PNG based on their academic achievement, leadership potential, and the desire to serve their communities and country as young leaders.
KTF CEO Dr Genevieve Nelson said,
“We are so thrilled to now be in our 13th year of running the Archer Leadership Development Program – a program that moulds young leaders and provides them with new experiences, networks, and pushes them out of their comfort zones to explore and practice adaptive leadership. Our alumni are practising leadership every day in so many innovative and impactful ways. From leaders in business, to pursuing careers in public service, to implementing community and social justice projects, the Archers are making a difference in their communities and country.”
The program is made possible with the generous support of the Fred P. Archer Trust managed by Perpetual, who have supported the program for 13 years, an ongoing commitment from the Newcrest Sustainability Fund, who have supported Archers for 5 years, and a new donorship commitment by Kina Bank who have joined the program in 2023.
Head of the Newcrest Sustainability Fund, Anna Madgwick said,
“The communities where we are fortunate enough to operate in mean a lot to Newcrest. By working in partnership with organisations such as KTF and the Archer Scholarship program, we can make a positive difference by supporting the growth of PNG’s emerging leaders. We take a great amount of pleasure in watching the recipients flourish, both personally and professionally, during the leadership course and how they embrace the opportunities that present themselves as a result”.
This year a record number of 237 students applied to be Archer Leaders and 24 of these were shortlisted and underwent a competitive interview process. The 2023 Archer Leaders are:
• Dianne Nason (Dental, UPNG)
• Getta Kambar (Construction Management, UNITECH)
• Courtneyalla Dotson (Law, UPNG)
• Flare Namalui (MBA, UPNG)
• Julia Tubang (Linguistics, UPNG)
• Latifa Jonathan (Law, UPNG)
• Raymond Billy (Science Bio, UPNG)
• Rodwaltaz Billy (Law, UPNG)
• Herman Namora (Literature & Political Science, UPNG)
• Houston Nen (Building & Construction, UNITECH)
• Luther Temai (Medicine, UPNG)
The 2023 KTF Archer leaders will undertake the first steps in their leadership journey with a series of workshops this weekend in Port Moresby. Through the course of the year, they will undertake work experience, leadership workshops, mentoring, tuition and boarding support, professional development, and participate in a trip to Australia for an immersion workshop which is the main highlight of the scholarship program.
Graduating from the 2022 Archer leadership program, Archer Leader Nelson Kokoa said,
“The entire experience of the Archer Leadership Program is something I will never forget. It helped me to develop leadership skills I never knew I had. I am now the Founder of Art Activism PNG, a movement aimed to initiate thought-provoking conversations around social issues in PNG through art, where I lead over 70 young art enthusiasts with a desire for change. I wouldn’t have come this far if it wasn’t for the skills and knowledge I gained from the leadership Development Program.”
The Archer Leadership Development Program also graduated 9 Archer Leaders who undertook the leadership program last year.
The graduating Archer Leaders from the 2022 cohort are:
• Annagrace Anis (Engineering, Unitech)
• Brian Wala (Civil Engineering, Unitech)
• Eunice Wangu (Law, UPNG)
• Grace Mageo (Mechical Engineering, UNITECH)
• John Giuna Kawagle (Engineering, Unitech)
• Magdalene Webster (Medicine, UPNG)
• Nathan Kilali (law, UPNG)
• Nelson Kokoa (Chemistry, UPNG)
• Jebby Lulue (Dental Surgery, UPNG)
The 2023 Archer Leadership Program is proudly supported by:
