MEMBERSHIP> TECHNICAL OFFICERS

Mr. MARK ERNEST

Mark is an engineering geologist with over 16 years extensive professional experience in various geological projects covering aspects of mining, civil and structural infrastructure projects including maritime infrastructure developments projects throughout the country.

He has been Project Manager/Team Leader for various development projects coordinating the execution of geological and geotechnical field investigations, ensuring the timely delivery of report and design requirements. Over the past years, Mark was responsible for the daily operation of SMEC PNG as the Managing Director, and as Country Manager representing SMEC International Pty Ltd since 2000 and only recently relinquished of these roles in August 2007. 

Mark now maintains the role of Manager Geotechnical, Pacific for SMEC International Pty Ltd assisting the SMEC PNG and SMEC International teams in managing various projects requiring technical and administrative inputs within PNG and the Pacific.

Mr. Mark Ernest

Manager Geotechnical Pacific
P.O. Box 315
KONIDOBU, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

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DR. SIMON APTE

Dr. Apte is a Research Scentist at CSIRO Australia. He has over 18 years experience of conducting studies on the fate and transport of trace metals n water bodies impacted by mining activities. This includes work in in-river tailings disposal and deep sea tailings placement. He has extensive experience of working on mining-related projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Solomon Islands.

Dr. Apte is also the Acting Theme Leader Healthy Water Ecosystems Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, CSIRO, where he was responsible for a AUD $24million per year research program on water quality with management responsibility for 97 staff members.

Dr Simon Apte holds a Bachelor of Science in Environment Science and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Analytic Chemistry from University of Southampton, UK.

His membership of professional institutions include: the Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC, C.Chem)., Soceity for Ecotoxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)., the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and a Fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (FRACI).

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Mr. DAGWIN LUANG-SUARKIA

Dagwin Luang-Suarkia is a Molecular Biologist and is head of the Molecular Microbiology Department of the PNG Institute of Medical Research (PNG IMR), where he is engaged in investigation of diseases of relevance to Papua New Guinea, in particular sexually transmitted infections and tuberculosis. 

He is one of PNG’s leading researchers in the study of Molecular Biology and Genetics of disease pathogens, and is presently interested in developing the National capacity in diagnosis of Flaviviruses including that of dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses.

Daqwin completed his Bachelor of Science at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1993, his PGD in Molecular Biology at the University of Papua New Guinea in 1999 and his MSc in Molecular Biology (Virology) and Genetics at the University of Queensland in 2002.

Mr. Dagwin Luang-Suarkia

Molecular Biologist
PNG Institute of Medical Research
P.O. Box 60.
GOROKO, EHP 441
PAPUA NEW GUINEA

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Mr. CRAIG WILSON

Craig is Executive Director of the Foundation for Development Cooperation in Australia.  He is an economist with extensive policy and business experience in the Asia-Pacific region and has worked with numerous international organisations including the World Bank, IFC, UNDP, USAID and others. During the 1990s, Craig served as a diplomat in the Australian Foreign Service.
Craig is co-author of two books which focus on opportunities for private sector involvement in poverty reduction. One (with Professor George Lodge of Harvard) is entitled "A Corporate Solution to Global Poverty", published by Princeton University Press; the other is "Make Poverty Business" (with Mr. Peter Wilson from the UK), published by Greenleaf Publishing.

Craig has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Griffith University, Brisbane, and a Master's degree in International Affairs, specialising in Economic Policy Management, from Columbia University, New York.