Steamships names new corporate affairs head

VELE Rupa has been appointed as general manager corporate affairs for Steamships Company Ltd (Steamships).
Rupa replaces David Toua who moves on as chairman of Bank of PNG and principal private sector adviser for Abt Associates.
Rupa joins Steamships from Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) where he was seconded to the State negotiating team working on resource projects like Papua LNG, P’nyang, Porgera, Pasca A and more recently Wafi-Golpu.
He brings to Steamships a deep understanding of the resource industry having worked with both the Department of Treasury and ExxonMobil in the past.
“The addition of Vele Rupa to the Steamships executive management group comes at a time when there are high expectations for resource-driven growth is timely,” the company said in a statement.
“He leads Steamships corporate communications, community engagement, corporate development and sustainability teams and provides a central link between significant private sector business and the State and with the broader business community.”
Rupa was educated at the Port Moresby National High School before going on to earn a double degree in political science and public policy management from the University of Papua New Guinea.
“As Steamships welcomes Rupa, it also acknowledges the decade-long contribution of Toua,” the company said.
It said Toua had been “an excellent ambassador” for Steamships, and as chairman of the Apec advisory committee for Papua New Guinea.
“Toua’s deep commitment to Steamships and to the development of the company and of the general business community is widely acknowledged and his recent appointment as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) is a fitting recognition,” it said.