Elizabeth is Civic Engagement Lead at Transparency International Papua New Guinea, where she heads the youth programs. 

Previously, Elizabeth was Youth Secretary at the Catholic Bishops Conference and volunteered with the Jubilee Catholic Secondary School. With more than 16 years’ experience in the youth sector, Elizabeth is committed to helping students grow in their personal capacities and continually works with her local parish youth group.

Natalia is Senior Consultant at Alinea International, where she advises on development investments such as the Aus-PNG Partnership and Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific. 

Previously, Natalia worked as Strategic Adviser within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), where she directed Australia’s international gender equality team and managed aid and development projects for the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government. Natalia also represented Australia in multilateral negotiations at the G7, G20, UN Human Rights Council, and UN General Assembly.

Heather is a Graduate Research Officer at the National Security College of The Australian National University, where she provides research support to the Executive and Policy Teams and coordinates and delivers professional development programs for national security professionals. 

Heather is passionate about increasing awareness of and strengthening Australia’s relations with Papua New Guinea, as well as lifting Pacific literacy in Australia’s national security workforce. As a young professional Heather is committed to increasing youth representation and participation in regional diplomacy and security discussions and advocating for a greater youth voice.

Shaun is an Australian public servant and defence force reservist. He holds postgraduate qualifications in international relations and national security, public administration, and psychology. 

Shaun has worked in Southeast Asia for several years and authored articles with varying publications in the field of international affairs and security. Previously, he was Branch Councillor for the Australian Institute of International Affairs and volunteered with an NGO based in PNG. Shaun currently lives and works in Canberra.

Michael is the Co-founder of the Future Ancestors Program – a leadership program designed to empower and support Pacific youth to be agents of change. 

Previously, he worked across warehousing, quality assurance and heavy machinery. Michael has been involved in the Management Committee of the Pacific Islands Committee of Queensland (PICQ) since 2016 and was previously the PICQ Youth Representative and PICQ Vice President. 

As a Papua New Guinean and Indigenous Australian man from Western Australia, Michael is deeply interested in contributing to a meaningful relationship between Australia, Papua New Guinea and the broader Pacific region. Michael is from Meanjin (Brisbane).

Theckla is a broadcast journalist and Producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) based in Port Moresby. Theckla has covered major news events on international security, politics and the region in her ten years of experience. 

Prior to joining the ABC, Theckla was an online journalist at Inside. The highlight of her career at ABC was producing a Foreign Correspondent documentary in the Sepik Region. 

Theckla believes the key to a strengthened Australia-Papua New Guinea relationship is youth advocacy and empowerment.

Thatcher is a Policy Officer at the Department of Defence, serving as the U.S. Desk Officer in the International Policy Branch. In her role, she manages bilateral relations, coordinates defence policies, and facilitates communication between the Defence Department and the United States government on security and strategic issues. 

Previously, Thatcher was the Senior Defence Committees Secretariat, coordinating high-level meetings from the Defence Council to the National Executive Council (NEC). Thatcher holds a degree in political science from the University of Papua New Guinea.

Luke is Senior Export Manager for Pacific Islands International, where he leads the International Project Division. 

Luke is also on the Executive Committee for the Australian Pacific Islands Business Council and Committee Member for the Bishop Michael Putney Fellowship Program, which raises funding for research into preventing suicide amongst youth athletes. He is aware of the role of youth leadership in leading and shaping meaningful international partnerships.

Tecklah is a filmmaker operating her film label in Port Moresby. Tecklah’s film Wan Dei was an official selection in the 2018 Papua New Guinea Human Rights Film Festival, and Narcissist won three awards in the 2021 Digicel PNG 2 Minute Film Competition. Her work on Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) is shown on the local TV channel, TVWAN. 

Outside of commercial productions, Tecklah has a passion for teaching filmmaking skills to underprivileged youths and uses film as a tool for human rights and social justice advocacy. Tecklah enjoys boxing and trains with the Team PNG boxing team.

Paul is Policy Officer at the Department of Defence. Previously, he worked in sustainable development, disaster response and youth leadership in Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Tonga. 

Paul is currently Chair of the Pacific-Australia Youth Association, where he delivers programs promoting youth engagement, leadership development and cross-cultural understanding. With a strong commitment to enhancing Australia’s relationships with the Pacific, and especially Papua New Guinea, Paul believes young voices are central to solutions that address challenges of the Blue Pacific.

Amy serves as a Foreign Service Officer at Papua New Guinea’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Through interactions and engagements in bilateral border and maritime security dialogues, she has broadened her understanding of the management and coordination of internal and external international issues and developments.

Amy’s interest in youth empowerment stems from her participation in the Kokoda Track Foundation Archer Fellowship Program in 2015.

Pala is Founder of KumulCare, a not-for-profit organisation advocating for greater inclusion and empowerment in rural villages, through disability awareness and education. He has also held several roles across organisations delivering social impacts and witnessed the power and potential of young people to transact change. 

With passions in combatting health and social inequalities, Pala believes establishing connections and fostering resilient youth networks is pivotal to further developing the Australia-PNG relationship. Pala is of Rigo and Motu-Koita heritage.

Mijica is Juris Doctor candidate and Research Assistant at the University of Canberra, broadening her knowledge of the Australian legal system and policy frameworks that assist Pacific migrants and refugees with settlement. 

Mijica is ACT Branch Director for the UN Young Professionals Network and ACT National Council Representative for the Australian Red Cross. In 2024, she was recognised as the ACT Young Woman of the Year for her volunteer work across education, media, healthcare and human services. Mijica is from Papua New Guinea and lives in Canberra.

Saikio is a Policy Planning and Monitoring Officer at the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council. He gives his spare time to community service, especially supporting the Morata Youth Association where he mentors young people to be leaders in the community. 

Saikio is passionate about making a difference and aspires to transition into a political role where he can advocate for social justice, equity, and sustainable development.

Noella Scully is Founder and Head Educator of a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing free educational programs for children in Buitbam, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. 

With a background in education and museum industry, Noella aims to empower PNG children and youth by offering equal educational opportunities and helping them to achieve their goals. She also seeks to collaborate with Australian teachers, enhancing local educators' professional development and facilitating volunteer opportunities, thereby strengthening the Australia-PNG relationship and expanding educational opportunities across PNG.

Rhonda is a Senior Legal Officer at Papua New Guinea’s Department of Justice and Attorney-General, within the International Law Division of the Office of the State Solicitor. As a lawyer, she provides legal advice and clearance on international arrangements, including security, nuclear terrorism, climate change and fisheries. 

Rhonda is committed to identifying areas of Papua New Guinea’s diplomatic relations that require strengthening and developing solutions for improvement that promote and protect PNG’s national interests.

Stanford is an Adviser at the Office of the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, where he manages the restoration program at the Porgera District in the Enga Province. 

Standford leverages transparency and accountability in the district to work towards eradicating corruption, financial mismanagement, unfair wealth distribution and unequal participation in business activities. Stanford desires to empower rural communities to meaningfully participate in mining activities and be part of the community development initiatives.

Aidan is a Business Development Manager at Ruswin Integrated Solutions. 

As a former elite athlete, he has played ruby union for the Queensland Reds, Australian Capital Territory Brumbies, Australian 7s team, Sporting Union Agen (France) and Honda Heat (Japan). Aidan is an Ambassador for Capital Rugby Union in Port Moresby and believes that sport can be used as a vehicle to strengthen communities and motivate young people. 

After spending most of his adult life abroad, Aidan is excited to leverage his learnings in Papua New Guinea and inspire the next generation of PNG’s leaders.

Sheridan is Program Coordinator for ABC International Development Papua New Guinea (PNG), working on the Media Development Initiative with various media organisations in PNG. 

Previously, Sheridan worked for the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) as a Pacific Business Liaison Researcher. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Security from the Australian National University, and a Master in Sustainable Development and Diplomacy from the United Nations Institute of Training and Research and The University for Peace, based in Costa Rica. 

Sheridan’s research interests include non-militarisation and countries without sovereign military institutions, security dynamics in the Pacific region, and traditional governance and bilateral security partnerships in Pacific Island countries.

Alice is a Dharug woman with extensive experience working with First Nations communities across regional and remote locations. She is the Indigenous Programs Manager at the Australian Volunteers Program and advises internationally as Managing Director of Connecting Cultures International. Alice focuses on equitable inclusion and community development. At the Australian Volunteers Program, she facilitates connections between cultures and empowers individuals and communities to share knowledge and enhance cultural understanding. She is passionate about creating avenues for respectful and meaningful dialogue, providing equitable engagement between Australia and the Pacific. Alice is committed to amplifying First Nations voices and leadership in development and diplomacy.

Allan is a Consultant at Ernst & Young (EY) in Perth, on the Infrastructure Advisory team. Prior experience includes policy development and research in the government sector. Allan contributes to organisations such as Australia’s Department of Education, Wesfarmers, and Accenture. His expertise and interests focus on sustainable change, with regard to education, human rights, and poverty alleviation. Allan is a First Nations man from Far North Queensland. His personal background gives Allan a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities concerning infrastructure, Indigenous affairs, and sustainable development. Allan collaborates with stakeholders to create innovative solutions and drive positive change in the communities he serves.

Anita is a Bougainvillean- Australian woman, born in Bougainville and based in Canberra. She is an anthropologist, employed as senior consultant at ERIAS Group, an Australian firm specialising in environmental and social impact assessment and management consultancy in energy, resource and infrastructure sectors. Anita was a founding managing director of an Indigenous-owned recruitment consultancy, 3 Emus Recruitment. Her doctorate attained at the Australian National University focused on Indigenous entrepreneurship and landowner businesses in Papua New Guinea’s mining sector. Anita also worked in Central Australia with at-risk Indigenous Australian youth. She is passionate about sustainable outcomes for Indigenous peoples impacted by extractive resource development.

Anna-Liza has a diverse background in sports, counselling, and professional speaking. With over twenty years’ experience in the sports industry, Anna- Liza is a former elite athlete, sports administrator, events coordinator, and athlete wellbeing advocate. She represented Papua New Guinea in swimming at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, three Commonwealth Games, and five World Championships. As an accredited counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association, Anna-Liza works with athletes and high performers, empowering them to achieve success alongside mental health and wellbeing. She is a passionate speaker who delivers engaging keynotes on the importance of prioritizing mental health and well-being.

Anthony is the Digital Content Manager in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s (ABC) International Services Team. His career began as a cadet with ABC News, evolving into a broadcast journalist across Australia. For the past four years, he has focused on covering the Pacific Islands, transitioning from a journalist to a digital content manager. Notably, he spearheaded the development and launch of ABC Pacific, a digital brand aimed at engaging audiences across the Pacific Islands. His team creates content to connect with audiences in Papua New Guinea, a crucial demographic for ABC International Services.

Bethanie is a freelance journalist and producer currently contributing to The Guardian Australia, covering Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Pacific region. With over a decade of experience, he has an extensive background in PNG, having previously served as the PNG Producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and worked with PNG’s national television station, EMTV. Bethanie has covered a broad spectrum of subjects, including political developments, elections, violence, natural disasters, sports, and developmental challenges. Bethanie’s unique perspective comes from having immersed himself in PNG’s political landscape to understand government agendas, leadership dynamics, and PNG’s diverse population and development journey.