New cohort of Archer Leaders poised for yearlong leadership journey

Last night, international development NGO, Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF), announced the recipients of the 2019 Archer Leadership Program at a reception in Port Moresby. Finding and fostering the next generation of PNG’s young leaders, the program works with an exceptional cohort of final-year tertiary students, taking them on an intensive, experiential leadership development journey. The 2019 Archer Leaders were announced by His Excellency Bruce Davis, Australian High Commissioner to PNG and Governor Gary Juffa, in the presence of a range of corporate partners, friends and family.

The 2019 Archer Leaders are: Maisy Lus, Bachelor of Science Chemistry, UPNG; Evangelista Apelis, Bachelor of Science Biology, UPNG; Perryson Miori, Bachelor of Business, UPNG; Soynna Binding-Suwae, Bachelor of Law, UPNG; Puri Temu, Bachelor Civil Engineering, University of Technology; Abigail Havora, Bachelor of Medicine, UPNG; Obeth Singol, Bachelor of Science Biology, UPNG; and Helen Ipauki, Bachelor of Medicine, UPNG.

“We are absolutely delighted to once again be taking on a journey a cohort of strong, visionary and deeply committed young leaders” said Dr Genevieve Nelson, CEO of KTF. “They are an extraordinary group of final-year students, who are passionate about an improved future for PNG”. The Archer leaders program is generously funded by the Fred P. Archer Trust, managed by Perpetual Trustees, and the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture.

The 2018 Archer Leaders also graduated from their year-long leadership development program at the ceremony in Port Moresby. “Being an Archer Leader has been nothing less than a life experience. I am thankful to KTF for this amazing opportunity that has not only aided in my leadership development but the experiences gained through this program have also opened doors for me career wise” said Zena Good, 2018 Archer.

The Archer Leaders Program is a nation-wide program open to all final-year tertiary students across PNG. Program recipients participate in mentoring, tuition & boarding fees, educational & professional development resource support, work experience, community projects, and a leadership exchange to Australia. 

KTF’s function also celebrated the completion of the Teach for Tomorrow program which trained 3,685 elementary teachers across 14 provinces between 2016 - 2018. The Teach for Tomorrow project was a collaboration between KTF, the National Department of Education, PNG Education Institute and various Provincial Divisions of Education, as well as a wide consortium of donors, and the teachers trained deliver schooling to more than 130,000 children across remote and rural PNG.