The delegation, comprising a diverse group of young professionals, entrepreneurs, and community advocates who were the participants of the 2025 Emerging Leaders Dialogue, engaged in an insightful dialogue with the Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs Mr. Elias Wohengu and the senior management team at Department Office on May 30, 2025.

The dialogue focused on empowering emerging leaders to learn and extend their understanding of Papua New Guinea and Australia in areas of mutual importance. It provides a platform for aspiring leaders to gain a deeper appreciation for PNG’s perspectives on critical regional and global issues.

The session discussed PNG-Australia relation including the past, present and the future cooperation in the areas of politics, security and leadership, among other.

In presenting on the political history of Papua New Guinea and Australia, Secretary Wohengu shared insights on the independence of Papua New Guinea. Mr. Wohengu stated, “the wave of independence that begun soon after the World War 2 was so peaceful for Papua New Guinea. The flag of Australia was lowered, not pull down, not torn, not burnt, but nicely folded and given to Australian while the flag of PNG was raised. The moment reflected true friendship and mutual respect for indigenous people of both countries.

Mr. Wohengu also mentioned significant contributions of past leaders of both countries in the likes of Sir Michael Thomas Somare and Gough Whitlamm for setting the future of Papua New Guinea’s political independence.

Mr. Wohengu highlighted that the PNG-Australia relationship commenced some years back before PNG’s Independence ,1975.  He said,” Papua New Guinea and Australia stood side by side during the World War 2. The native Papua New Guineas saw Australians as their own and protected them, and that is when their relationship commenced”.

Speaking on present and future perceptive of the PNG-Australia bilateral relations, Secretary Wohengu affirmed strong and enduring relation between both countries in their strategic areas of cooperations.

“PNG and Australia are close neighbours and that we will walk side by side as we go 50 years from now. We will strengthen security, commerce and trade, people-to-people relations through education, employment opportunities such as labour mobility scheme,” Mr. Wohengu added.

The young leaders took the moment as an opportunity to networking and engaging with Secretary Wohengu to learn his experiences not only as a senior government official in the public service, but also as a career diplomat in the PNG’s foreign service with records of leadership roles in the regional and global affairs. This session was crucial for young leaders as they step into building leadership in their respective areas of experience and expertise.

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