Institute name change sign of Aust, PNG partnership

The PNG Institute of Public Administration (IPA) is now known as the Pacific Institute of Leadership and Governance (Pilag).
Under its new name, the institute is a partnership between PNG and Australia to support the development of ethical, capable public sector leaders.
The transition was made by Minister for Public Service Elias Kapavore, deputy chairman of PNG IPA Florence Willi and the Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis.
IPA chief executive officer Angori Wewerang said the institution produced good leaders for PNG and other Pacific Island nations for the last 51 years.
He acknowledged the Australian government for the initiative taken to develop the institution.
“This launching marks the pruning of IPA to PILAG to produce good, accountable and transparent leaders for the future,” Wewerang said.
Kapavore acknowledged the relationship between Australia and PNG since the 1960s. He said IPA had produced great leaders such as Sir Michael Somare and Bart Philemon in the 1960s.
“In 1966, it was a very important year for them when they graduated from this institution and went on to become founding fathers of this nation,” he said.
“Leadership cannot exist without a sense of purpose.
“It was those leaders who had that sense of purpose that brought PNG to its birth in 1975.”
Kapavore said the Pilag agenda was tabled in parliament as the Pilag Bill and was passed last year.
Davis said: “IPA has a very special place in the hearts and minds of so many people, not only in PNG but also from an earlier stage in Australia.
“But, time does move on and time does need to change and clearly leadership and governance are the most important aspects of public administration and public policy regardless of whatever level of government we come from.