Hard work never goes unnoticed

 A HARD-WORKING mother of four was recognised by Ramu NiCo management recently for her outstanding contribution to the company. 

Veronica Bonamedura, or Vero as she is fondly called by her colleagues at RamuNiCo, works in the community affairs (CA) department as an administration logistics and procurement officer at the company’s operations base in Madang. 

She recently received a certificate of commendation for outstanding employee for 2014.

Bonamedura was a very dedicated and determined employee who, besides her normal duties, helped her Chinese supervisor David Yin with finance and administration duties in the department. RamuNiCo (MCC) is the developer of the country’s first nickel/cobalt mining project. 

The company’s approach towards women and development was enshrined in the company’s recruitment and employment policy developed in 2009. 

The mine developer was committed to providing equal access to employment, as well as access to equal benefits, wages and promotion.

Bonamedura admitted working with the department was sometimes challenging because she deals with landowner issues in sorting out procurement for donations and assistance to their communities in the RamuNiCo projects impacted area which were within jurisdiction of the department. 

Bonamedura acknowledged her colleagues within the department, especially senior officers, who had encouraged her and provided moral support when performing her duties.

She said the certificate she received has prompted her to take on more challenges along the way and hopefully move on to next level if opportunities arise within the department.

Bonamedura, who comes from East Sepik and Chimbu, joined Ramu NiCo on May 2, 2011, after moving with her husband from Alotau, Milne Bay, where she worked with Milne Bay Estate as the overseas payment officer.  

Before that, she worked for six years with Westpac Bank in Lae and Wewak.

RamuNiCo Management president, Wang Jicheng announced seventy-two employees who received certificates of recognition from Basamuk refinery, Kurumbukari mine site and Madang base. Bonamedura was one of those recipients.

Jicheng, when announcing the awardees, said the employees were recognised because they stood the trials and hardships to move the project one step forward under very extreme situations.

He said a number of staff within Ramu NiCo had performed exceptionally well in their respective departments and stood out to be role models among other Ramu NiCo employees. 

Bonamedura said the award she received reflected team work, commitment and friendship in the work place.

“Receiving these awards not only motivates us to be the best of the best but to spend time to reflect to the long path that we have come from 

when we first joined Ramu NiCo” she said.