Welcome & housekeeping

9.30am - 9.35am

Dr Genevieve Nelson, CEO of KTF will provide an Acknowledgment of Country, welcome to guests and set the scene for the 2021 Pawa Liklik NGO Forum.

Opening keynote

9.35am - 10.10am

Minister Zed Seselja, the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, will set the scene, the context and challenges for NGOs and the critical partnerships between the Australian Government and NGOs in addressing some the greatest challenges facing the development sector in 20 years.

What can we expect: COVID-19 and the small NGO

10.10am - 10.40am

Prof Brendan Crabb from the Burnet Institute will discuss what small to medium sized NGOs can expect over the next 12 months as the gloabl community continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mimi Zilliacus
CEO, ADI

Amanda Robbins
Founder & Director, Equity Economics

Tim Budge
Principal & Director, Tribal Strategies

Rebecca McDonald
CEO & Founder, Library For All

Petra Arifeae
Program Manager, KTF

Dr George Carter
Research Fellow, Geopolitics & Regionalism, Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU

Dermot O’Gorman
CEO, WWF Australia

Rachel James
Blue Pacific Programs Manager, WWF Australia

Hope, future, resilience

2.00pm - 2.30pm

Sam Mostyn, President of Chief Executive Women, will wrap up the conference and look to the future, leaving us with words of encouragement and optimism as we look to 2022. As the formed Chair of ACFID, Sam knows all too well the intricacies and challences facing small to medium sized NGOs and will offer up her thoughts for how we position ourselves as we move into the next phase of the pandemic. Leave the afternoon feeling energised and enthused to continue our development missions.

Wrap up & thanks

2.30pm - 2.35pm

KTF’s CEO Dr Genevieve Nelson will wrap up the 2021 Pawa Liklik NGO Forum with a word of thanks, reflection and next steps for connecting.

Hon. Zed Seselja

Minister for International Development and the Pacific

Senator the Hon Zed Seselja is the Senator for the Australian Capital Territory and was sworn in as Minister for International Development and the Pacific on 22 December 2020. The Minister entered the Senate in 2013 and has served as Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation, Assistant Minister for Treasury and Finance, and Assistant Minister for Finance, Charities & Electoral Matters in previous roles. Prior to entering the Senate, the Minister was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in 2004. He served as Leader of the Opposition in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 2007-2013.

The Minister attended the Australian National University and holds degrees in Law and Arts. Minister Seselja was born in Canberra to Croatian immigrant parents, and lives in Canberra’s south with his wife Ros and their five children.

Prof. Brendan Crabb AC

Director & CEO, Burnet Institute

Professor Brendan Crabb AC PhD FAA FAHMS FASM is an infectious disease researcher with a special interest in malaria. His research group develops and exploits genetic approaches to better understand malaria parasite biology, principally to help prioritise vaccine and drug targets. Although a molecular scientist by training, Professor Crabb’s interests include addressing technical and non-technical barriers to maternal, newborn and child health in the developing world. In recent years, under the banner of Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, he helped establish a major research field site in East New Britain in Papua New Guinea, principally to identify the underlying drivers (including malaria) of low birth weight and stunting in relatively calorie-rich, yet resource-poor settings. Since 2008 he has been the Director and CEO of the Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health (Burnet Institute), a research institute that has a focus on infectious diseases and maternal and child health, especially for populations most in need. Burnet has played a major role in the COVID-19 pandemic, including advising governments and advocating strongly for public health action. Professor Crabb is President of both the Australian Global Health Alliance and the Pacific Friends of Global Health, bodies that advocate for better health equity. He is the past-President of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the peak body for independent medical research Institutes in Australia. Professor Crabb has played critical roles in transformative government policy and funding initiatives, including in the generation of the $20b Medical Research Future Fund.

Sam Mostyn AO

President, Chief Executive Women

Sam Mostyn AO is a businesswoman and sustainability adviser, with a long history of executive & governance roles across business, sport, climate change, the arts, policy, and NFP sectors. In addition to her role as President of Chief Executive Women, Sam currently chairs the boards of the Foundation for Young Australians, Ausfilm, ANROWS (the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety) and Alberts. Her many board appointments vary from Mirvac to the Sydney Swans, the Centre for Policy Development and The Climate Council. Between 2013-2017 Sam was President of the Australian Council for International Development. She was an inaugural commissioner with the National Mental Health Commission and was Deputy Chair of the Diversity Council of Australia. Her executive and non-executive roles have encompassed business strategy, human resources, culture change, corporate and government affairs, risk management, community engagement, climate change, gender equality, and sustainability.

Sam was presented the distinguished 2020 United Nations Day Honour Award for her significant contribution in advancing the work of the United Nations and was awarded an AO in the 2021 Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to business and sustainability, and to the community, through seminal contributions to a range of organisations, and to women. Sam has a BA/LLB from the Australian National University, and in 2018, was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the ANU, in recognition of her work as a pioneer of gender inclusion and equity, and leadership in sustainability and climate change.

Dallas Dowsett

Head, International Development, University of Queensland

Dallas has an extensive background in international business and education spanning over 27 years.  She has held senior management positions in both private and public sector education institutions and within government for trade development. In 2009, Dallas joined The University of Queensland as Deputy Director of the Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education (ICTE) with key responsibility for the Institute’s international projects and continuing education program areas including executive operational management responsibility for the Institute’s offshore English language institutes in Danang, Vietnam and Antofagasta, Chile. She also manages ICTE’s offshore program delivery in both TESOL and Continuing Education areas including support English programs for development projects in Africa and Mongolia. Dallas has travelled extensively in work-related roles and in recent years has had significant involvement in projects and training activities in Vietnam, Chile, Indonesia and China. Dallas' role is to provide overall unit leadership and direction to International Development to enable the division to achieve its financial and strategic goals.  Her key focus is on ensuring high levels of client and stakeholder relations and the successful delivery of awarded development projects and initiatives for the division and the University. Dallas’ focus will be on developing opportunities for growth within the division aligned with UQ’s strategic goals. Dallas holds a Bachelor of Laws degree and has undertaken extensive professional development related to her areas of experience in the English language, vocational and internship sectors at both institutional and industry levels.

Georgina Camp

Founder & CEO, Huber Social

Founder and CEO of Huber Social, Georgina leads a team that is committed to creating global society where Wellbeing thrives. Working across the private and social sector globally, Huber Social measures the needs of people, and the effectiveness of services to address them, making sure resources are directed to have the greatest impact. Georgina’s experience across Defence, global law firms, agriculture, ship building, local and international development and serving as an Australian Army Officer, instilled in her a data driven, systems thinking approach to solving social issues. Georgina and her team created Huber Social as a force to get the private and social sector working together to ‘go the last mile’ and solve complex social issues. Georgina holds a Master of Development Studies form the University of Sydney, a Bachelor or Law and a Bachelor of Arts (International Politics), Diploma in Project Management and Commission in the Australian Army.

Amanda Robbins

Founder & Director, Equity Economics

Amanda has extensive expertise in economic policy having worked as policy adviser for over 20 years in both government and the not-for-profit sector domestically and internationally. Amanda has expertise in public financial management, health and education policy, governance and development economics. Amanda worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Australian Federal Treasurer and Deputy Prime Minister in the former government and has over 9 years experience with the Federal Treasury. Her experience internationally includes as Senior Adviser in the Treasury of Papua New Guinea from 2006 to 2008, in New York advising World Vision, as Deputy Director of Australia’s flagship economic governance program in Indonesia and most recently working with the World Bank in Washington DC. Amanda founded Equity Economics in 2013 and has since delivered original economic costings, macro-economic analysis and policy options for governments, unions, think tanks, corporates and the NGO sector. Amanda is committed to supporting and strengthening the role of the NGO sector in Australia. Amanda combines skills in economic analysis with an ability to formulate policy and communicate complex reform. Amanda holds a Global Executive MBA and Bachelors of Economics from the University of Sydney, and Masters of Laws from the ANU. Amanda is also a qualified lawyer.

Dr Genevieve Nelson

CEO, KTF

As a founding director of KTF and CEO since 2009, Gen guides KTF’s work with people and communities to improve the lives and futures of Papua New Guineans. KTF is an international development organisation working in education, health, livelihoods, equality and leadership. She holds a Doctorate in Cross-cultural and Educational Psychology from Western Sydney University and a Bachelor of Psychology (Hons). An adjunct Research Fellow with the University of Queensland, Gen has published and presented extensively. Gen shares her time between PNG and Australia and has walked the Kokoda Track 22 times.

Dr Tim Budge

Principal & Director, Tribal Strategies

Dr Tim Budge is a development professional with over 30 years’ experience in international development, community organising and education. He has held senior management positions in Australian charitable organisations, as well as postings at Country Director level for International NGOs. He has a Bachelor of Science (Hons – Monash), a Masters in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne) and a PhD in Development Studies. He is a skilled communicator and a strong analytical thinker.

Rachel Mason Nunn

Senior Manager, International Development, Equity Economics

Rachel is a specialist in social development, gender empowerment and institutional strengthening. Rachel was previously a World Bank Social Development Specialist and has extensive experience leading designs, delivering projects, undertaking reviews and conducting evaluations. This experience extends across the Asia Pacific Region. Rachel was previously a Senior Consultant at EY, specialising in supporting social enterprises and charities to measure the social and economic value of their work. Rachel also launched one of Australia’s most successful NFP podcasts, Good Will Hunters in 2018. With over 10,000 listeners, concentrated in Australia along with other geographies in the region, the podcast tackles big questions in aid such as sector sustainability, NGO consolidation, private sector partnerships, and transformation of international development, and is recognised as a valuable resource for civil society capacity building, education and engagement.

Dr George Carter

Research Fellow, Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National University

George is a Research Fellow in Geopolitics and Regionalism at the Department of Pacific Affairs, at the Australian National University (ANU). His research interests focus on foreign policy making in the Pacific Islands and their relationship with Australia, as well as the geopolitical security interests in the region around climate change and environment, human security and cyber-security. George completed a Master of Arts in International Relations with Honours, and a Master of Diplomacy at ANU under an Australian Awards scholarship, and subsequently received the Prime Minister’s Australia Pacific and the DPA Pacific Scholar Award. He is also a graduate of Victoria University of Wellington with Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Pacific Studies. Prior coming to Australia, he was the Political Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Apia. George’s research and teaching interests are informed by his education, work experience in the Pacific and upbringing through his proud Samoan Tuvaluan, i-Kiribati, Chinese, British ancestry. He serves his family and village in Samoa, where he holds the matai/chiefly title of Salā.

Dermot O’Gorman

CEO, WWF Australia

Dermot is the Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Fund for Nature, Australia (WWF-Australia). WWF, the world’s largest network of international conservation organisations, works across 100 countries and helps mobilise over 1 million supporters in Australia, and six million members worldwide. Dermot has been a leader in sustainable development for over two decades across Australia, the Pacific, Asia, and Europe. As WWF-Australia’s CEO, Dermot leads efforts to protect our unique wildlife and ecosystems, address climate change and work with markets and business to reduce their impact on the planet. He does this by integrating science, innovation, field, and policy programs. Dermot has driven innovation thinking within WWF, especially on digital technologies, overseeing the establishment of WWF Panda Labs and WWF’s first global joint venture, OpenSC. Dermot is a Director of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), Co-founder and Chairman of OpenSC, a member of the Queensland Climate Advisory Committee, on the Australia’s Prime Ministers National Bushfire Peak Group (sic) and the Australia’s COVID19 National Charities Cabinet. He has previously Chairman of the WWF Asia Pacific CEOs Growth Group (2015-2018), Chair of WWF’s Global Conservation Committee (2007-2010) was a member of the China Green entrepreneurs club (2008-2010), was on the 2014 Australian C20 Committee and a founder of the Australian (Business) Climate Roundtable.

Jackie Hanafie

Founder & Principal Consutant, Humankind Advisory

Jackie Hanafie is an Australian/Indonesian communicator who believes in the power of stories to effect positive social change. She has spent the past decade telling humanitarian, development and human rights stories and launched her own consultancy, Humankind Advisory, in 2020 consulting to organisations such as UNICEF, World Vision, Oxfam, Ground Truth Solutions, and the International Women’s Development Agency. She sits on the board of the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA) and is a member of the international advisory board for Missing Perspectives - a global platform seeking to address the marginalisation of young women in both news coverage and decision-making. 

Jackie is passionate about all forms of storytelling, particularly peer-to-peer and participatory approaches. She has lived and worked in Melbourne, Sydney, Brazil, Colombia and now Indonesia, where she is based. She holds an honours degree in humanitarian journalism and a master’s in strategic public relations.

Marc Purcell

CEO, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID)

Marc Purcell has headed the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) since 2009. ACFID is the peak body for around 140 Australian organisations working in international development. ACFID operates a Code of Conduct for Australian development NGOs. Marc has 25 years’ experience in the community, international development and human rights sectors in Australia. He worked as Oxfam Australia’s National Advocacy Manager and was Executive Officer for the Catholic Commission for Justice Development and Peace Executive. He has also worked as Country Program Manager for Africa at Australian Volunteers International; and worked with UNHCR in Nepal assisting Tibetan refugees. He researched China’s global rise and impacts on developing countries for Oxfam Hong Kong and has written about refugee and human rights in Burma. Marc is a Director of the Community Council for Australia and the Campaign for Australian Aid Executive Committee. He has served on the boards of Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, the National Roundtable of Non Profit Organisations, the Refugee Immigration Legal Centre, A Just Australia, and Catholic Social Services Victoria. Marc has a First Class Honours degree in History, and a Master of Arts in Burmese History from Monash University.

Rebecca McDonald

Founder & CEO, Library For All

Co-founder and CEO of Library For All, a global team of ed-tech specialists, authors, illustrators, designers, educators and entrepreneurs with a passion for; access to knowledge and a child’s right to learn. From origins as a digital library, under Rebecca’s leadership, Library For All have organically grown to become a leader in the ed-tech space focused on low and middle-income countries and in March 2020, Library For All merged with Save The Children Australia. The merger joined SCA's deep education experience and LFA’s technology-led approach.Rebecca previously worked as a Program Manager in the Australian construction industry, where she was responsible for the delivery of a 1-billion-dollar low-income housing program. She also served for over eight years as an Ambassador for Opportunity International, a leader in the microfinance industry. In 2010, she moved to Haiti to help rebuild after the devastating earthquake, where she realized that even the schools that were intact had very little access to books. Extensive research of the infrastructure and opportunity in Haiti for over two years led Rebecca to found Library For All in 2012.Rebecca was recipient of the Community Award at the 2019 Women in Technology Awards, named one of Queensland’s 50 Best and Brightest in 2013, and presented at TEDxBrisbane 2013 in Australia. As CEO, Rebecca leads the vision and goals for the organisation, and focuses her efforts on business development.

Jonica Jay

Communications & Fundraising Officer, Femili PNG

Jonica Jay is Femili PNG’s Communications and Fundraising Officer based in Lae. Jonica has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/Public Relations from the University of Papua New Guinea. Prior to joining Femili PNG in March 2017, Jonica was working as an External Liaison & Business Development Officer. Jonica has made many valuable contributions to Femili PNG since she began with the organisation including increasing the organisation’s social media presence and compiling and editing the Femili Tok newsletter. In addition to her communications and fundraising work, Jonica has also managed Femili PNG’s Outreach team. Since 2017, the Outreach team has delivered awareness-raising sessions on family and sexual violence to over 79,000 people across PNG.

Petra Arifeae

Program Manager - Education, KTF

Since joining in 2011, Petra has been responsible for the evolution of our programs across PNG. Petra has recently overseen and implemented KTF’s Teach for Tomorrow project which has trained over 2,290 elementary teachers for PNG. With over 18 years experience in the PNG education system, Petra has held roles including Schools Advisor with the International Education Agency, School Principal of Rabaul International School, and Deputy Principal of Gordon International School. She is a qualified teacher trainer and assessor and has extensive experience in teacher induction, training and professional development programs. Petra has a Bachelor Degree in Education, a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management, and a Cert IV in Training and Assessment. Petra is from Oro Province in PNG.

Mimi Zilliacus

CEO, ADI

Mimi has a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector and in senior roles in the health sector in PNG. She has a BA, a Masters in Public Health and is currently completing a Masters in Business Administration. A skilled integrator, innovator and thinker, Mimi has over 10 years of experience fostering collaboration among health, UN, government and NGO actors across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Singapore and Zambia. Mimi is dedicated to improving health services for rural populations and finding creative and practical solutions to complex health problems. Before joining ADI, Mimi worked as the Statewide Implementation Coordinator for the Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP). Mimi started as CEO of ADI in March 2021 and works in our Sydney office.
Mimi has a wealth of experience in the not-for-profit sector and in senior roles in the health sector in PNG. She has a BA, a Masters in Public Health and is currently completing a Masters in Business Administration. A skilled integrator, innovator and thinker, Mimi has over 10 years of experience fostering collaboration among health, UN, government and NGO actors across Australia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Singapore and Zambia. Mimi is dedicated to improving health services for rural populations and finding creative and practical solutions to complex health problems. Before joining ADI, Mimi worked as the Statewide Implementation Coordinator for the Victorian Rural Generalist Program (VRGP). Mimi started as CEO of ADI in March 2021 and works in our Sydney office.

Rachel James

Blue Pacific Programs Manager, WWF Australia

An experienced marine and environmental specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the environmental services industry, Rachel James is the Program Manager for WWF-Australia’s Blue Pacific Program, focussing on strategic engagement in the Pacific and Australian foreign policy relevant to WWF's objectives in the Pacific.She manages high-level government and partner relationships and oversees program and policy development, governance and execution. As one of WWF-Australia's key contact points with WWF offices in Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, her role also leads WWF-Australia's efforts to support capacity development of those offices and Pacific civil society more broadly.With a background in corporate social responsibility, natural resources, natural resource management, management, and creative problem solving, Rachel’s experience plus her MSc focused on International Studies of Aquatic Tropical Ecology & Conservation from Universität Bremen gives her a rounded perspective on the challenges facing the Pacific today.

Mere Nailatikau

Communications, Research and Public Diplomacy Consultant

Mere is a storyteller and development professional with eighteen years of experience in research, communications and public diplomacy.After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and management, and a master’s degree in development studies, Mere spent several years working in media, the creative arts, civil society and aid-funded development organisations.Her research experience includes a five-country desk review of youth unemployment in the region. This was followed by a policy advocacy campaign that saw youth unemployment prioritised by Pacific Island Forum Leaders in 2011. More recently she has commissioned market research into Pacific perceptions of technical and vocational education and training (TVET).Mere has developed communications and advocacy strategies, managed their implementation and evaluation, and supported executives with internal and external communication, stakeholder management and crisis communication.In 2017 she attended the University of Southern California’s Centre for Public Diplomacy Summer Institute in Los Angeles, and prior to this was part of the team that launched the Australia in Fiji Facebook Page at the Australian High Commission in Suva, Fiji.Her writing has been published in Stella Magazine, the Commonwealth Writers Blog, Climate Tracker, DevPolicy and The Interpreter. She also co-founded the Two Fishes podcast and serve as MC and curator for TEDxSuva.She now uses her extensive experience to consult and create for a variety of organisations.

Joel Bird

Senior Development Coordinator, International Development, University of Queensland

Joel supports the UQ International Development team part-time through business development, program design and evaluation, internal system management and special initiatives. Joel is passionate about sustainable development and the use of social enterprise as a development methodology, and has supported a range of impact organisations to adapt activities to sustainable models and measure their impact. Joel brings extensive experience and industry knowledge to the UQID team, along with strong technical knowledge of business systems, partnerships, business development and financial and project management. Joel joined UQID in 2015 as a Development Coordinator, directly supporting short courses in the Pacific and South-West Asia regions, long-term projects in Tonga and Mongolia, logistical support for APEC workshops, and lead the development of internal systems. Prior to joining UQ, Joel worked in Rwanda, delivering education and sport-related projects for refugees and youth, in Brisbane as a refugee youth capacity building office, and consulted on refugee engagement. Joel holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology)from the University of Southern Queensland and a Cert IV in Youth Work, YMIS.

Elsa Carnaby

Head of Program Development and Effectiveness, Oxfam Australia

Elsa is an international development specialist with over a decade working for small, medium and large NGOs across Australia, South Asia, East Africa and the Middle East where she has contributed to the development of resilient development strategies, policies and research. Elsa’s technical expertise includes disaster risk reduction, climate resilience and humanitarian action. Her passions include challenging the status quo, using design thinking and innovation methodologies and embedding feminist principles throughout her day to day work.