DR. ILA TEMU

Ila Temu commenced employment with Placer Dome as General Manager, Government Relations in the Port Moresby Office in 2000. Prior to this, Ila was Managing Director of Mineral Resources Development Company (MRDC) from 1996. MRDC is set up and owned by the State to manage State and Landowner equity in all major mining and petroleum projects in PNG.

Ila’s most recent appointment was in October 2005 as the General Manager, Placer Dome, Tanzania. He was recalled to PNG following the acquisition of Placer Dome by Barrick Gold. He was appointed Country Manager, Barrick (PNG) in May 2006.

Ila holds a Bachelor’s Degree (Hons) in Economics from the University of Papua New Guinea and a Masters Degree in Agricultural Development Economics from the Australian National University.  After completing a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of California, Davis in 1990, he held various academic positions including Senior Lecturer of Economics at UPNG, Director of the National Research Institute in PNG and Director of the Pacific Islands Program at NCDS, Australian National University, Australia.

Ila has held a number of Board positions including IPBC, NEFC, and the PNG Incentive Fund. His current appointments are Bank South Pacific (BSP), BSP Capital and Divine Word University.