Youths invited to join Aust-PNG event

YOUNG Papua New Guinean professionals are being encouraged to join an annual event that aims to ensure longstanding ties between PNG and Australia.
The annual Australia-Papua New Guinea Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue will be hosted by the Lowy Institute in Cairns from Dec 3-6. Nominations are now open, with up to 10 young professionals from each country selected to take part in the three-day event.
Director of the Institute’s Pacific Islands Programme, Jonathan Pryke, said there are lots of connections between Australia and PNG that go back decades. “Through the dialogue we work to make sure those ties continue for the generations to come,” he said.
The dialogue was first held in 2013 as an initiative of the foreign ministers of both countries.
Now in its sixth year, the event has connected more than 100 people and continues to maintain links through regular workshops and networking events in PNG and Australia through the Aus-PNG Network.
The programme is run by the Lowy Institute with the support of the Australian Government and institutions in PNG.
This year’s dialogue will build on the experience of PNG as host of the Apec Leaders’ Summit, and will include discussions on tourism and travel and how that can strengthen relations between both countries.
Participants should be aged 40 years or younger, and be able to demonstrate how they would contribute to building ties between Australia and PNG.
Details on how to apply can be found at the Aust-PNG Network’s webpage auspng.lowyinstitute.org