Meet Julieth Jiap, Director for Social Infrastructure on the Economic and Social Infrastructure Program (ESIP), funded by the Australian Government under the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, implemented by DT Global.
Julieth, a registered professional engineer with the PNG Institute of Engineers and experienced in building services, leads a team of 16 people to ensure the timely construction of high-quality social infrastructure, improving the livelihoods and wellbeing of Papua New Guineans.
“The work my team and I are doing is positively impacting the lives of ordinary Papua New Guineans. A market is more than just infrastructure. It is a source of revenue. For instance, the Lae Market project, when viewed holistically, not only affects the vendors but also has a rippling effect that extends right down to the villages. That vendor selling fruits is not only selling to support his or her family at home but may also be paying for school fees for the next engineer or doctor currently studying in university.”
Beyond her role, Julieth recently supported her alma mater, PNG University of Technology (PNGUoT), as an industry representative in the School of Mechanical Engineering’s Assessment Review Panel.
“Through my role in overseeing engineering graduates for social infrastructure, this allowed me to provide feedback to the university on curriculum and practices improvement that would enable graduates to be compatible in the industry after graduating,” said Julieth.
This process culminated in the full accreditation of the PNGUoT engineering courses by Engineers Australia under the Washington Accord in December 2024.
This achievement reaffirms that Papua New Guinean engineering graduates meet international benchmarks to practise in the industry and work globally.
Josephine Finnola Lowe, Accreditation Manager for PNGUoT’s Faculty of Engineering, reiterated that consultations with industry experts, such as Julieth, are essential as they inform local capacity building and workforce readiness for emerging engineers.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Ms Jiap and DT Global for their dedication and support towards the accreditation milestone and strengthening engineering education at PNGUoT and the country,” said Josephine.
In addition to her important role in ESIP, Julieth is a current participant in DT Global's Emerging Leaders in International Development (ELID) program.
She enjoys meeting and working with people from different parts of the globe, learning from shared experiences, critically challenging norms to achieve better outcomes, and developing a deliberate plan to achieve management goals.
“The ELID program has encouraged me to better assess my interaction not just with project stakeholders but within my team, ensuring I can create that safe space that allows open dialogue to provide input on project deliverables.”
“My advice to those contemplating a career in engineering or building construction is to take the bold step; you will not regret it. If you are a Papua New Guinean, look no further than PNGUoT, which now offers internationally recognised engineering courses. Papua New Guinea needs you!”
For more on the ESIP Program: https://dt-global.com/projects/esip/
