a
M

Home

About

Our Work

Programs

Content Hub

Newsroom

Contact Us

Members

Business Council of PNG Announces Appointment of New President and Board Members

Nov 17, 2023

The Business Council of Papua New Guinea (BCPNG) hereby announces the appointment of newly elected executive board members including the President-Elect.


The appointments were done at the Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 16th November 2023.


The newly appointed Business Council of PNG’s 2024 – 2025 Executive Board Members are Mrs. Susil Nelson-Kongoi, CEO of IBBM as President-Elect, Mr. Moses David, Senior Economist of Kina Bank Ltd as Vice President (National), Mr. Hulala Tokome, Chairman and Managing Director for Puma Energy as Vice President (International), and Ms. Courtney Boustridge, Senior Manager Advisory of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as Treasurer.


The Non-Executive Board Members include Mr. Kee Lim - General Manager of Fairdeal Liquors Ltd, Mr. Stan Joyce - CEO of Joyce & Co., Ms. Julienne Leka-Maliaki - PNG Country Manager of Tetra Tech International Development, Mr. Adam Kramer – Managing Director of Kramer Ausenco and Mr. Kenneth Imako – Partner at Allens.


The outgoing President, Ms. Nuni Kulu, congratulated the new board members and passed the leadership role on to further the work of the council by being the ‘Voice of the Private Sector’.


“It has been an honour to serve the Business Council as President with the Members of the Board and I will continue to provide strategic support to the newly appointed board members”, said Ms. Kulu.


Ms. Kulu as the Chair to the recently held Annual General Meeting gave an update on the achievements of BCPNG’s 5-year strategy and the PNG Government to Business Framework 2022- 2027.


Apart from BCPNG hosting the inaugural Government-to-Business Consultative Forum (G2BCF), other Government-to-Business engagements this year saw a combine attendance of 2000 business executives, officials, over 100 speakers from various national and international organisations to engage in robust conversations with the Ministers, Members of Parliament and the Judiciary.


As successor, the newly appointed President of the Business Council of PNG, Mrs. Susil Nelson-Kongoi, thanked Ms. Nuni Kulu for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and acknowledged the tireless work of BCPNG Secretariat and the Board Members.


“I would like to thank you, the Business Council membership, for placing your confidence and trust in me as your President,” said Mrs. Nelson-Kongoi. “Our focus for 2024 moving forward will be to engage with purpose”.


Mrs. Nelson-Kongoi comes highly recommended with a background in various high-level leadership roles in Papua New Guinea. She is the current CEO of PNG’s Institute of Banking and Business Management.


About Business Council of Papua New Guinea

Since 1995, the Business Council of Papua New Guinea (BCPNG) has been the peak body representing the private sector in the country across all sectors, promoting the importance and role of economic growth, freedom, and enterprise. Business Council of PNG works with the government and other associated bodies to frame policy, take part in debate and support initiatives that generate economic growth for the well-being of Papua New Guinea and its people.


As a private not-for-profit organisation, BCPNG liaises and works in-between the intersection of where private and public meet with the sole intention of creating an arena where differences in opinions can be aired and addressed to satisfy all stakeholders involved.


BCPNG provides a unified voice, ensuring the views and issues of the business community – those concerning PNG’s economic, social, and political environment – are expressed in a well-researched and consolidated manner.

The Business Council of Papua New Guinea (BCPNG), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the European Union-funded Preventing and Countering Corruption in Papua New Guinea Project, brought together leaders from the judiciary, private sector, government, civil society and development partners for a series of engagements focused on strengthening trust, institutional integrity and confidence in Papua New Guinea’s business environment.

The engagements began on 18 August 2026 at the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby with the Chief Justice’s Business Breakfast, followed by Private Gavamani Konekt 3 (PGK3). The programme continued on 20 August with a workshop focused on practical tools for strengthening business integrity in the private sector.

Together, the events created a platform for discussing how justice, governance, integrity and innovation intersect with business confidence, investment and sustainable economic development in Papua New Guinea.

Chief Justice’s Business Breakfast: Strengthening Confidence Through Justice and Integrity

Held under the theme “Justice, Integrity and Innovation: Strengthening Markets and Governance in PNG,” the Chief Justice’s Business Breakfast placed the role of strong and trusted institutions at the centre of the discussion.

Chief Justice Sir Gibuna Gibbs Salika highlighted the importance of the rule of law, judicial integrity and institutional confidence in supporting economic activity and national development.

His remarks reinforced the importance of businesses and investors being able to operate in an environment where laws are predictable, contracts can be enforced and disputes can be resolved fairly and efficiently.

The Chief Justice also reflected on continuing reforms within the justice sector, including improved case management, judicial education and the growing use of technology.

Emerging issues such as artificial intelligence, digital evidence, privacy and cybersecurity were highlighted as areas requiring careful consideration as PNG’s justice system and wider economy continue to evolve.

A key message from the breakfast was that innovation must strengthen access to justice, transparency and efficiency while preserving fairness, accountability, judicial independence and sound human judgement.

The discussion also reinforced the connection between strong institutions and the confidence required for investment, commercial activity and long-term economic growth.

PGK3: Connecting Justice, Governance and the Business Environment

Following the breakfast, PGK3 expanded the dialogue through five focused sessions examining issues increasingly important to both government and the private sector.

The forum covered financial crime, anti-money laundering and economic integrity; artificial intelligence, digital evidence and the future of justice; land, the green economy and environmental justice; judicial reform, security and investor confidence; and arbitration, mediation and alternative dispute resolution.

Participants explored how stronger information-sharing, transparency and institutional coordination can contribute to more trusted and resilient markets.

The discussions on financial and economic integrity highlighted the importance of reliable systems, corporate transparency and collaboration between regulators, government agencies and businesses.

Technology also featured prominently throughout PGK3. As more government, financial and commercial systems become digital, the forum recognised the growing importance of cybersecurity, data integrity and responsible approaches to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

The land and environmental justice session considered the need to balance economic development with customary land interests, environmental stewardship and the long-term sustainability of PNG’s natural resources.

Investor confidence and commercial justice were also central themes. Participants considered how efficient judicial processes, predictable regulation and stronger dispute-resolution mechanisms can reduce uncertainty and support a more competitive business environment.

The forum also highlighted the role of mediation and arbitration as practical mechanisms for resolving commercial disputes, potentially reducing delays, transaction costs and pressure on the courts.

Across the discussions, a consistent message emerged: improving PNG’s business environment is not simply about introducing new policies or institutions, but ensuring that existing laws, systems and institutions work effectively and consistently.

Business Integrity Workshop: Moving from Dialogue to Practical Action

The week’s engagements continued on 20 August with the Workshop on Practical Tools for Strengthening Business Integrity in the Private Sector.

The workshop, delivered through the EU-funded PNG Anti-Corruption Project in partnership with UNDP and BCPNG, focused on practical approaches businesses can use to strengthen ethical conduct, compliance and organisational integrity.

Participants examined PNG’s existing anti-corruption framework and considered how private sector organisations can strengthen internal governance and reduce corruption risks.

The workshop also explored a proposed model approach to business integrity, including principles around transparency, accountability, ethical conduct, fair competition, information integrity and responsible engagement with communities.

Whistleblower protection was another important area of discussion, alongside the importance of clear reporting processes, confidentiality and organisational systems that encourage concerns to be raised safely and appropriately.

A strong emphasis was placed on prevention—through education, awareness, clear procedures, ethical leadership and stronger internal systems—rather than relying solely on investigations after misconduct has occurred.

The workshop also provided an opportunity for businesses and stakeholders to contribute practical feedback on how integrity tools could be applied within Papua New Guinea’s private sector.

Building Stronger Institutions Through Collaboration

Taken together, the Chief Justice’s Business Breakfast, PGK3 and the business integrity workshop demonstrated the value of sustained dialogue between the institutions and organisations that influence Papua New Guinea’s economic environment.

For BCPNG, these engagements are an important part of connecting the experiences of businesses with the institutions responsible for justice, regulation, governance and national development.

By bringing the judiciary, private sector, government, civil society and development partners into the same conversation, BCPNG continues to provide a platform for constructive engagement on issues that directly influence business confidence and investment.

The week’s discussions reinforced a clear principle: stronger markets depend on trusted institutions, effective systems and a shared commitment to integrity.

BCPNG will continue to support Government-to-Business dialogue and practical collaboration that contributes to stronger governance, responsible business practices and sustainable economic growth in Papua New Guinea.