Papua New Guinea Sustainble Development Program

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The Members of the Advisory Council

Ms Felecia Dobunaba, OBE, BA

Chairperson of the Advisory Council. Appointed to the Council on 11 June 2003, and was re-apponited on 2 December 2005. Ms Dobunaba has extensive knowledge of and experience in social and development planning and program implementation. She has served as the Director of the Office of National Planning and as Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs and Youth. Ms Dobunaba is at present Director-General (Central Agencies Coordination Committee Secretariat) in the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council.

Dr Betty Lovai, BA (Hons), MA, PhD

Appointed to the council on 11 June 2003 and re-appointed on 2 December 2005. Dr Lovai has worked extensively amongst the poor in urban and rural areas. Her research and teaching has focused on situation studies of communities and villages. Dr Lovai brings to the Advisory Council her experience as a consultant to many esteemed organisations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), AusAID, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and World Vision. Currently Dr Lovai is also a Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Papua New Guinea.

Rev. Samson Lowa, BDiv, BEd, Dip.Sec.Teaching, Dip.Theo

Appointed to the Council on 11 June 2003 and re-appointed to the Council on 2 December 2005. Rev Lowa was a secondary school teacher before entering the Church. He brings to the Advisory Council his knowledge and skills as the Moderator of the United Church of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and as well as the President of the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches. Currently, Rev Lowa also serves as a Director on the Board of a number of organisations including the Evangelism Exposition Ministry International (based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida), the Bank of Papua New Guinea and Post PNG.

Mr Steve Nion, BSc, MSc

Appointed to the Council on 11 June 2003 and re-appointed on 2 December 2005. Mr Nion brings to the Council many years of experience in the mining industry of Papua New Guinea including responsibility for managing PNG's Geological Survey as the country's Chief Geologist. Mr Nion is the alternative Papua New Guinea National Representative to the Coordinating Committee for coastal and offshore geosciences programme in East and South East Asia. Currently Mr Nion serves as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Mining.

Dr Navu Kwapena, BSc, MSc, PhD

Appointed to the Council on 1 August 2003 and re-appointed on 2 December 2005. Dr Kwapena is an Environmental Ecologist and Botanist dedicated to the protection of native PNG flora and fauna, and the sustainable use of natural resources including equitable distribution of the benefits of resource exploitation. Dr Kwapena brings to the Council many years of experience in the Department of Environment and Conservation, including service as Acting Deputy Secretary and First Assistant for Wildlife Research, Management and Conservation. Dr Kwapena is currently a Technical Advisor to the Department of Environment and Conservation.

Mr Blasius Iwik, Dip. Rel. Studies

Appointed on 24 October 2003 and re-appointed to the Council on 2 December 2005. Mr. Iwik represents the interests and perspective of landowners of Western Province on the Advisory Board. He has served with the Roman Catholic Church in Kiunga, Western Province for many years including as pastoral worker with St Brigid’s Parish and later as Diocesan Development Secretary. Currently Mr Iwik is Communications and Public Relations Officer with added responsible for Catholic Education with Roman Catholic Church, Kiunga.

Mr Paul Songo CMG, OBE

Appointed to the Council on 13 November 2006. Mr Songo is the Consultant Advisor on Provincial and LLG in the Public Sector Reform Unit of the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council. He has held the position of the PNG High Commissioner to Australia and served as Secretary of the Department of Personnel Management and Secretary of the Department of Health. Mr Songo brings to the Advisory Council many years of public sector experience, particularly in the area of capacity building.