NRI head gets Australian uni honour

National, Normal
Source:

The National – Wednesday, February 16, 2011

THE director of the National Research Institute (NRI) Dr Thomas Webster has been bestowed the honorary title of adjunct professor in the school of international andpolitical Studies of the Deakin University of Australia.
The conferral of title was in recognition of Webster’s remarkable direction to research at the premier institute and guiding policy advice to different government agencies and development partners.
At a reception in Port Moresby last Friday, NRI’s deputy director for research at, Musawe Sinebare, said the honour was icing on the cake for Webster’s illustrious and distinguished academic and leadership career spanning nearly 40 years.
Webster has contributed significantly to a wide array of publications ranging from refereed journals,  book chapters, newspaper articles, and consultancy reports to different clients between 1997 and 2010.
He also wears the management hat to serving on several committees and boards, including chairman of the Australia-PNG Incentive Fund Management Group, membership to the Pacific economic bulletin’s editorial board, and member of the PNG land board. 
Webster said the appointment cements the partnership between NRI and Deakin University following an MoU last year and encouraged further collaborative work between the two think-tanks.
He began his career as a primary school teacher in Western Highlands in 1974 and advanced from the teaching profession to become an assistant policy officer with the Department of Education.
He rose through the ranks as a senior professional assistant (Planning) with the NCD education office, national education planner with the department of education and later as a lecturer at UPNG.