AGP Executive Report

Global Health & Awards: UK nurse Agimol Pradeep wins the USD 250,000 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026, recognised for work on transplant access and tackling healthcare inequalities. Creative Sector & Arts Funding: The National Cultural Commission pushes for real investment in PNG’s creative industry, backing reggae artist Anslom with K20,000 for album development. Education Milestones: Porebada Primary School in Central marks 70 years of education, tracing shifts from mission to community to today’s primary school. Culture in Action: Central Province’s Bereina hosts the Central Music Arts and Culture Festival, mixing traditional dance, modern sounds, and community outreach. Community Sports & Inclusion: Special Olympics PNG launches a Moni Plus Unified Football competition with 21 teams, promoting inclusion through mixed play. Public Health: PNG begins HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14 in NCD and Central, aiming to cut future cervical cancer deaths. Law, Culture & Safety: PNG Tribal Foundation CEO GT Bustin urges enforcing existing laws on sorcery accusation-related violence before any talk of the death penalty. Biodiversity & Heritage: NCD Governor Powes Parkop calls for stronger protection of PNG’s natural heritage as the country marks 51 years of independence.

Cultural Sponsorship: South Pacific Brewery has renewed its support for the Goroka Show with a K20,000 sponsorship, backing the Highlands’ iconic festival of peace, unity and tribal heritage. Biodiversity & Independence Spirit: NCD Governor Powes Parkop urged Papua New Guineans to protect the country’s natural heritage as he opened the 2026 National Orchid and Flower Show, framing biodiversity as a national treasure for future generations. Central Province Festival Buzz: Bereina came alive for Day One of the Central Music Arts and Culture Festival, mixing traditional dance, modern sounds, and community outreach alongside SME and government awareness stalls. Education with Values: Opposition Leader James Nomane called for values-based education at the IEA’s 50th anniversary in Goroka, saying schools should shape character—not just careers. Health Milestone: PNG launched the HPV vaccination program for girls aged 9–14, starting in NCD and Central, aiming to prevent cervical cancer. Safety & Accountability Debate: PNG Tribal Foundation CEO GT Bustin says PNG must enforce existing laws on sorcery accusation-related violence and GBV before talking about the death penalty, pointing to gaps in prosecution and corruption. Financial Protection: BPNG and 15 institutions signed the PNG Empower Finance Code to help prevent financial abuse, including coercion, forced debt and misuse of accounts. Community Inclusion in Sport: Special Olympics PNG’s Moni Plus Unified Football Competition kicks off Saturday with 21 teams, promoting inclusion through mixed teams of athletes and unified partners.

Jerusalem Embassies & Faith: Pacific nations—including Papua New Guinea—continue opening embassies in Jerusalem, with experts saying the push is driven less by strategy and more by religious conviction. Education Reform: James Nomane calls for values-based education at Goroka’s IEA 50th anniversary, while Marape urges PNG to put quality education at the centre of the next 50 years. Health & Women’s Rights: PNG has launched a national HPV vaccination push for girls aged 9–14 to prevent cervical cancer. Safety & Accountability: The PNG Tribal Foundation warns that enforcement gaps still leave sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) and GBV offenders unpunished. Finance & Abuse Prevention: BPNG and 15 institutions sign the PNG Empower Finance Code to tackle financial abuse, including salary and account control. Culture & Fashion: Samoa’s designer Teleasau Joy Paese will bring faith, family and cultural identity to PNG Fashion Week 2026. Sports & Inclusion: Special Olympics PNG’s Unified Football tournament kicks off Saturday, promoting social inclusion through mixed teams. Community Life: A new piece explores how drinking in PNG can be treated as social performance, not just intoxication.

Education & Values: Opposition Leader James Nomane urged parents and schools to teach character and values, not just careers, at the IEA 50th anniversary in Goroka. Health & Women’s Rights: PNG launched HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14 in NCD and Central, aiming to cut future cervical cancer deaths. Safety & Accountability: PNG Tribal Foundation CEO Garry Bustin warned that police enforcement gaps still leave sorcery-accusation violence and GBV offenders unpunished. Finance & Abuse Prevention: BPNG and 15 institutions signed the PNG Empower Finance Code to tackle financial abuse, including salary control and account misuse. Culture & Fashion: Samoan designer Teleasau Joy Paese and Lufa Basket founder Judy Ejampi will bring faith, family, and Indigenous craft to PNG Fashion Week 2026 in Port Moresby. Sports Inclusion: Special Olympics PNG’s Moni Plus Unified Football starts Saturday at Sir John Guise Stadium, with mixed teams for athletes with and without disabilities. Community & Faith: DWU Wewak campus hosts the final leg of its 30th anniversary celebrations, while a Bahá’í discussion highlights prayer and consultation shaping local action. Indigenous Knowledge: A “lost” Sepik species, the spinach pipefish, was rediscovered after 40 years.

Photography & Memory: A nearly 200-print Max Dupain retrospective spotlights images like “Meat Queue” (1946), where wartime rationing and chance moments reveal stoicism and refusal. PNG Fashion & Identity: Samoan designer Teleasau Joy Paese will bring “faith, family, and cultural identity” to PNG Fashion Week 2026, joining regional designers at APEC Haus. Education Milestone: Divine Word University’s Wewak campus hosts the final leg of its 30th anniversary celebrations (Sept 14–16), with a “Festival of Legacy and Vision.” Inclusion in Sport: Special Olympics PNG Unified Football kicks off Saturday at Sir John Guise Stadium with 21 teams in a one-day tournament. Health & Women’s Rights: PNG launches HPV vaccination for girls aged 9–14, starting in NCD and Central, aiming to protect against cervical cancer. Culture & Community: Reggae cultural ambassador Anslom Nakikus receives K20,000 support from the National Cultural Commission for international music work. Safety & Accountability: PNG Tribal Foundation warns that enforcement gaps still leave SARV and GBV offenders unpunished. Youth & Resilience: A profile of Phil Krawasi highlights how young people can survive family violence and still choose hope. Lifestyle: A reflective piece explores how drinking culture in PNG can become “performance,” not just intoxication.

Financial safety & inclusion: The Bank of Papua New Guinea and 15 financial institutions signed the PNG Empower Finance Code, targeting financial abuse that can control or exploit people—BPNG says it’s a gender-based violence issue and a barrier to real inclusion. Education access: DWU is expanding higher education access across Papua New Guinea, while UNICEF warns climate hazards disrupted schooling for 171m students worldwide—PNG students report flooding that forces them to miss lessons. Culture & community events: The National Cultural Commission backed reggae cultural ambassador Anslom Nakikus with K20,000 for international music work, and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners took naming rights for the 70th Goroka Cultural Show (18–20 Sept). Local development push: Marape urged Eastern Highlands communities to turn Highlands Highway investment into coffee, jobs and incomes. Environment & science: An indigenous fisherwoman in East Sepik rediscovered a “lost” spinach pipefish not seen by science in 40 years. Church leadership: Bishop Emilio met Pope Leo XIV, with the Pope urging bishops to “remain with Jesus” first.

Education & Health: PNG pushed quality education and child health forward this week, with the University of Goroka commissioning its K130m Central Administration Building and Student Forum Square, and the HPV vaccine program officially launched at New Erima Primary School in NCD to protect girls aged 9–15 against cervical cancer. Culture & Arts: The National Cultural Commission backed reggae cultural ambassador Anslom Nakikus with K20,000 for international music work, while Coca-Cola Europacific Partners took naming rights for the 70th Goroka Cultural Show (18–20 Sept), keeping PNG’s big stage for heritage and unity in the spotlight. Community Learning: Buk Bilong Pikinini rolled out nutrition guides for Literacy Week and delivered 3,000 books to Lae schools to boost reading access. Environment & Science: A Sepik expedition reportedly rediscovered the “lost” spinach pipefish, not seen by science for 40 years, using traditional fishing nets. Governance & Safety: Commentary urged stronger local law-and-order ownership by provinces and districts, and another piece warned that PNG leadership risks becoming autocratic without better accountability. Economy & Inclusion: Marape linked roads to livelihoods—coffee, SMEs, and market access—while Santos said PNG nationals now fully lead the Kumul marine terminal, a milestone for local capability.

Agri-Trade & local markets: FPDA highlighted horticulture extension at the 70th PNG Agri-Trade Festival in Goroka, pushing partnerships to help farmers meet market demand and scale PNG-made products. Law & order for development: A call for provincial and district leaders to take real ownership of local policing—backed by fuel, transport, and communications—so communities stay safe enough for services like education and health. ADB backing: The Asian Development Bank says it has committed about K23.96b (US$5.4b) to PNG since 1971, with new Port Moresby office plans including support for agriculture and secondary education. Women, tech & inequality: UN Women warns that only a small share of AI strategies mention gender, urging women and girls to shape digital governance. Health milestone: HPV vaccination launched in NCD at New Erima Primary School, targeting girls 9–14 to prevent cervical cancer. Education investment: PM Marape commissioned UOG’s K130m central building and student forum square, stressing better teacher training and learning outcomes. Culture preservation: NCC and IPNGS launched “A Tale of Central Province,” a student-documented collection of 26 traditional stories. Community learning boost: 3,000 books donated to Lae schools for International Literacy Day. Local leadership in industry: Santos says PNG nationals now lead the Kumul marine terminal, a step toward building local capability. Conservation research tie-up: TKCP partners with PNGUoT to expand field research and community training in the YUS Conservation Area. Digital public finance: PNG signed a K26m, three-year deal with TechnologyOne to support and expand its integrated financial management system nationwide.

Education & Health: Prime Minister James Marape commissioned the University of Goroka’s K130m Central Administration Building and Humilaveka Student Forum Square, pushing a clear message that infrastructure must lift teaching quality and learning outcomes. Public Health: PNG’s HPV vaccine program officially launched at New Erima Primary School in NCD, with Phase 1 rolling out through schools, health facilities and outreach to protect girls and young women from cervical cancer. Inclusion in Healthcare: Stella Ipang was named Westpac Outstanding Woman of the Year 2026 for embedding GEDSI into PNG immunisation, backed by practical tools for provincial health authorities. Literacy: In Lae, 3,000 books were donated to three schools for International Literacy Day, boosting library kits for students from early learning through secondary. Local Leadership & Culture: The National Cultural Commission and IPNGS launched “A Tale of Central Province,” a student-documented collection of 26 stories and legends. Governance & Services: PNG signed a three-year K26m deal with TechnologyOne to support and expand its integrated financial management system nationwide. Community Women’s Voice: Vanimo Green District Council of Women elected its executive for the next five years, with a focus on women’s rights and tackling issues like gender-based violence.

Education & Youth: Prime Minister James Marape officially commissioned the University of Goroka’s new K130 million Central Administration Building and Humilaveka Student Forum Square, framing it as a push for quality education into PNG’s next 50 years. Health: NCDPHA and partners launched the HPV vaccine program at New Erima Primary School, targeting girls aged 9–15 to help prevent cervical cancer. Conservation & Culture: TKCP and PNG University of Technology are partnering on field-based conservation research in the YUS Conservation Area, with work spanning ecosystems, livelihoods, and YUS culture and society. Roads to Livelihoods: Marape urged Eastern Highlanders to turn Highlands Highway investment into more coffee, jobs, and household income, linking infrastructure to SME and agriculture. Women & Community Leadership: Vanimo Green District Council of Women elected a new executive for the next five years, with calls for training and stronger representation. Heritage on the Runway: OFAE Arts will present its PNG Fashion Week 2026 collection in Port Moresby, spotlighting family, identity, and Gulf Province roots. Language & Identity: Papua New Guinea Language Week coverage highlights how migrants in Aotearoa keep Tok Pisin and other PNG languages alive at home. Governance & Markets: PNG’s ICCC launched its 2026–2030 Corporate Plan, with a focus on consumer protection, competition enforcement, and better outcomes for women and disadvantaged consumers.

Pacific Engagement Visa: Australia released the full list of 12 eligible countries for its new Pacific Engagement Visa, including Papua New Guinea, positioning it as a long-term way to deepen ties across the region. Pacific diplomacy & West Papua: At the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, China’s pushback over Taiwan drew attention, while Pacific leaders also put Indonesia on notice over a long-awaited UN human rights visit to West Papua, with MSG warning Indonesia’s status could be reviewed. Culture preservation: The National Cultural Commission and Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies launched “A Tale of Central Province,” a student-documented collection of 26 stories and legends. Fashion & identity: OFAE Arts is set to bring Gulf-rooted PNG heritage to PNG Fashion Week 2026. Education reform: PNG’s proposed 1.6.6 education structure faces scrutiny over whether ECE can be delivered beyond simple renaming. Digital public services: PNG signed a K26m TechnologyOne deal to support and expand its integrated financial management system nationwide. Women’s leadership: Vanimo Green District Council of Women elected new executives for the next five years.

Education & Youth: Australia’s near-$1b sweetener for a Solomon Islands security treaty includes free education, while PNG debates its own reforms—especially the proposed 1.6.6 structure and the warning that ECE can’t just be renamed from elementary schools. West Papua Rights Pressure: Pacific leaders at the Forum in Palau pressed Indonesia to allow a long-awaited UN human rights visit to West Papua, with MSG warning associate status could be reviewed in 2027 if action stalls. Governance & Integrity: Governor-General Sir Bob Dadae opened a leadership symposium urging moral integrity and servant leadership, as PNG also rolls out an ICCC corporate plan focused on consumer protection and competition. Women & Community Leadership: Vanimo Green District Council of Women elected new executives, and the election-focused push includes support for women’s participation and training. Culture & Sport: Air Niugini and WR Carpenters Group back the Hiri Moale/Hiri Hanenamo push, while youth sport initiatives like kickboxing and leadership-through-sport programmes keep discipline and character in focus. Climate Resilience: PNG is starting a multi-agency El Niño assessment to target help where it’s most needed, as Pacific communities brace for water, food and child health impacts. Digital Life: PNG cleared 5G spectrum for mobile operators, a boost for connectivity and future services. Diplomacy & Identity: Naoero (Nauru) opened an embassy in Jerusalem, tying its religious identity to its international alignment.

Women’s Leadership: Vanimo Green District Council of Women in West Sepik has elected its president and executive for the next five years, with leaders urged to speak up on issues like gender-based violence and voting rights, and to get training at LLG and ward level. Consumer & Competition Policy: PNG’s ICCC launched its 2026–2030 Corporate Plan, prioritising stronger consumer protection and competition enforcement, with special focus on women and disadvantaged consumers. Election Readiness: A call for reforms says PNG should improve candidate preparedness and quality through civic education, integrity standards, and clearer transparency for voters. Education & Culture: Goroka International School (GIS) is gearing up for its 50th anniversary celebration tied to PNG’s Independence, highlighting decades of learning and community. Sport Leadership: Applications are open for the second Wāhine Toa Oceania cohort, bringing retired Pacific female athletes to workshops across Fiji, Greece (Olympia) and Papua New Guinea. Independence Safety: Madang police chief urges residents to mark the 51st Independence Anniversary peacefully and reject misinformation and hate. Climate & Health Preparedness: A multi-agency El Niño assessment is underway to map impacts on water, food, health, education and displacement needs. Culture in Motion: Air Niugini and WR Carpenters Group back the Hiri Moale Festival and Hiri Hanenamo quest, supporting winners with a cruise and festival logistics. Digital Growth: PNG cleared 5G spectrum for mobile operators, opening key bands for licensing. Justice & Corruption: PNG’s Law Society and Public Prosecutor Helen Roalakona stress the need for competent, ethical legal practice and the challenge of securing convictions in graft cases. West Papua Diplomacy: MSG leaders push for a UN human rights commissioner visit to West Papua, warning Indonesia’s associate membership could be reviewed if the visit isn’t facilitated by 2027.

Education & Independence Commemorations: Goroka International School is gearing up for its 50th anniversary celebration on Sept 10, tying together “inspiring minds, friendship and community” with PNG’s 51st Independence milestone. Women in Sport Leadership: Wāhine Toa Oceania opens applications for its second cohort, bringing 20 retired female athletes from across the Pacific to leadership workshops in Fiji, Greece and Papua New Guinea. Language & Identity Abroad: A Papua New Guinean community voice in Aotearoa highlights how keeping Tok Pisin and other PNG languages alive helps migrants and families stay connected to home. Independence Safety: Madang police chief Superintendent Robert Baim urges residents to celebrate peacefully ahead of Sept 16, calling for unity and rejecting misinformation and hate. Culture on the Move: Air Niugini and WR Carpenters Group back the Hiri Moale Festival and Hiri Hanenamo quest, supporting winners’ travel and festival logistics. Climate & Community Preparedness: A multi-agency El Niño assessment is underway to map impacts on water, food, health, education and protection, with help prioritised for the most affected communities. Governance & Justice: PNG’s Law Society and Public Prosecutor Helen Roalakona stress the need for competent, ethical legal practice and the hard reality of prosecuting graft when evidence and witnesses are hard to secure. Sport & Youth Development: Kickboxing is being used to teach discipline and character through NYDA-linked youth programming, while PNG Chiefs prepare to unveil a new logo ahead of their NRL entry. West Papua Human Rights Pressure: West Papuan activist Paula Makabory says Pacific leaders must keep pushing Indonesia to allow a UN human rights commissioner visit.

Culture & Language in the Diaspora: Papua New Guinea Language Week is underway in Aotearoa New Zealand, with Simbu-born Omphalus “Ompa” Harkie Kua saying daily use of PNG languages helps migrants feel “at home” and keeps identity strong at family level. Independence & Community Safety: In Madang, the provincial police commander urged residents to mark PNG’s 51st Independence Anniversary peacefully, calling on churches, schools, youth groups, women’s associations and businesses to unite and reject misinformation and hate. Climate, Water and Food Stress: A multi-agency El Niño assessment led by IOM with the National Disaster Centre will map impacts across water, sanitation, food security, health, education, shelter and protection to guide where help is most needed. Digital Growth: PNG has cleared 5G spectrum for mobile operators, opening 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands for licensing. Hiri Moale Festival Backing: Air Niugini and WR Carpenters Group have signed on as sponsors, supporting winners and festival logistics to help keep cultural traditions moving. Youth Through Sport: NYDA-backed kickboxing events are promoting discipline, respect and character-building for disengaged youths. Governance & Justice: PNG’s Law Society and Public Prosecutor Helen Roalakona stress continuing legal education and the difficulty of prosecuting graft without strong proof.

British Accent Challenge: The British Deputy High Commissioner visited Legend FM in Port Moresby to help draw the winner of its month-long “British Accent Challenge,” with William Aila taking the top spot and the diplomat highlighting how many different British accents exist. Independence Safety Call: In Madang, the provincial police commander urged residents to celebrate PNG’s 51st Independence Anniversary peacefully, warning against misinformation, hate, and violence. Hiri Moale Festival Backing: Air Niugini and WR Carpenters Group both stepped in as gold sponsors for the Hiri Moale Festival, backing cultural heritage and offering winners travel prizes and logistics support. El Niño Response Planning: Health and emergency services, with IOM and the National Disaster Centre, launched a multi-agency assessment to map El Niño impacts across water, food, health, education, shelter, and protection so aid targets the most affected communities. Youth Through Sport: NYDA supported a kickboxing tournament message that discipline, respect, and character matter as much as competition. Digital Push: NICTA cleared 5G spectrum in the 2.6 GHz and 3.5 GHz bands for licensing, aiming to speed up next-generation mobile services. Corruption & Justice Training: The Law Society and Public Prosecutor Helen Roalakona stressed that graft cases are hard without strong proof, calling for competent, ethical legal practice and better prosecution readiness. NCD Lifestyle Medicine: NCDPHA promoted lifestyle medicine and stronger primary care in Port Moresby to tackle rising non-communicable diseases.