Komolong appointed as UNRE vice-chancellor

EXPERIENCED academic Dr Miok Komolong has been appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) along with an interim governing council.
Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Wesley Raminai announced the appointments in Port Moresby on Thursday.
Raminai said Komolong, who has a doctorate in agricultural science from the University of Queensland, was “a highly experienced professional”.
He said Komolong had been a consultant to the agriculture, innovation systems and institutional capacity building before his appointment to the UNRE council.
Komolong was a deputy secretary to the Department of Public Enterprise and was also an academic at the PNG University of Technology.
He also worked as a consultant to various Government departments, provincial governments and statutory institutions and currently serves as a member of the University of Papua New Guinea council and deputy chairman of the Lutheran University interim council.
Other members of UNRE’s new management team include Steven Nightingale as chancellor and interim council members Police Commissioner and National Pandemic Controller David Manning, Vani Nades, Christopher Papiali, Jason Gilai, Dr Andrew Masta, Patrick Bapi, James Koima, Chris Gai and Dame Sandra Lau.
Raminai said Nightingale was a resident of East New Britain and a major shareholder to Agmark Ltd and its subsidiary companies.
“This is a team of highly qualified professionals who have experience in the agriculture sector, the public service and private life,” he said.
Raminai said two women had been included for the first time on the council representing business and gender equality.
He said the council comprised “credible professionals who can manage and direct the university in its growth and development and also to improve the general affairs of students and staff”.
Raminai said he had to intervene and ensure that some of the pressing issues facing PNGUNRE were resolved by revoking the appointments of the university’s former senior management team (SMT).
“There has been a lot of boycotting of classes demanding the senior management team (SMT) at PNGUNRE to address, a lot of disciplinary matters which were alcohol-related and a lot more to do with water and sanitation, accommodation overcrowding, student welfare and much more.”
Komolong and Nightingale both assured Raminai that they would affect positive change.