Bougainville at a Crossroads: Leadership, Development, and the 2027 Independence Horizon

Please note that this is a hybrid event. For online attendance please sign up to obtain the Zoom link. Access link will be delivered via email upon registration.

Bougainville faces two defining deadlines in 2027 - the anticipated ratification vote in Papua New Guinea’s National Parliament and its self-declared “Independence Day”. The countdown to these milestones unfolds amid persistent socio-economic challenges that cannot be resolved by political independence alone. As President Ishmael Toroama embarks on his second term, the region stands at a crossroads where governance, development, and diplomacy must align to sustain momentum towards self-determination. This panel will explore the policy, institutional, and developmental priorities that must be addressed in the lead-up to 2027, and examine how both the Bougainville and Papua New Guinea governments can navigate this decisive phase in their shared history.

Speakers

Theckla Gunga-Jogo (Moderator) is a broadcast journalist and Producer for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) based in Port Moresby. Theckla has ten years of experience and has covered major news events on international security, politics, and has produced a Foreign Correspondent documentary in the Sepik Region.

Oliver (Oli) Nobetau is a Research Fellow and the Project Director of the Australia–Papua New Guinea Network at the Lowy Institute. Working in the Institute’s Pacific Islands Program, Oli is on secondment from the Government of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Oli was the 2024 FDC Pacific Research Fellow, and recently published his Lowy Institute Policy Brief “Bougainville’s Future: A roadmap for development.”

Yuambari Haihuie is a Papua New Guinean currently studying for Master of Public Policy, specialising in Integrity & Anti-Corruption, at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. Yuambari is a 2025 Somare-Whitlam Scholar under the Australia Awards Scholarships. Prior to studies, Yuambari was Deputy Director – Partnerships & Policy at Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) where he had worked for over a decade. Yuambari led research and advocacy at TIPNG, the country’s pre-eminent civil society organization combatting corruption.

Laurelle Pentanu is a consultant for Independent Consulting. A champion for Bougainvillean women, Laurelle also serves as Chairlady for the Central Bougainville Tourism Association, which aims to prepare short-medium term industries for a long-term economic future. She is the proprietor of Uruna Bay Retreat on Pokpok Island in Bougainville, and is a Director of the Young Professionals Network of PNG. Laurelle has over nine years’ experience in policy divisions of PNG’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Michaela Long is Investment and Communications Manager at Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Australia. With experience in government, private, and for-purpose sectors, she builds partnerships that enable private sector growth in the Blue Pacific. A Fijian-Australian based in Sydney, Michaela brings cross-cultural insight and regional depth. She is a 2024 Social Impact Fellow and supports Pacific-led initiatives focused on impact measurement, values alignment, and long-term inclusive development through purpose-driven leadership.