Press Release
13 May 2026
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU), through its Faculty of Business and Tourism Studies, successfully hosted today a Project Management Workshop at the FAFF Conference Room, Kukum Campus.
The workshop brought together registered participants from line ministries, the private sector, SINU staff, and other invited stakeholders, to discuss the importance of effective project management and its role in delivering resilient and impactful projects in the South Pacific region.
The program was officially opened by Associate Professor Elliot Mugamu, who welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of strengthening project management knowledge and practices within institutions and communities.
In his opening remarks, Dr Mugamu noted that projects are central to development across all sectors, including government ministries, state-owned enterprises, private sector organisations, donor-funded initiatives, universities, and community-based programmes. He emphasised that the success of projects depends largely on how well they are planned, financed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated.
โThis workshop therefore comes at a very important time. Across the provinces, organisations are increasingly expected to deliver projects on time, within budget, and with measurable impact. At the same time, stakeholders are demanding greater transparency, efficiency, and value for resources invested. These realities call for stronger project management knowledge, practical skills and professional collaboration,โ he said.
Dr Mugamu encouraged participants to actively engage in discussions, ask questions, and make full use of the expertise available during the programme. He further emphasised that the knowledge gained should be applied within organisations and communities to support national development.
The workshop featured Ofer Zwikael from the Research School of Management, ANU College of Business and Economics, as the facilitator. Professor Zwikael is an internationally recognised expert in project management and benefits realisation, ranked among the top 2% of scientists globally according to Stanford University. His research has been applied by organisations such as NASA and supported by institutions including the Australian Department of Defence and the Project Management Institute.
During the session, participants explored key topics including Project Management in the South Pacific, Projects and Strategy, Project Life Cycle, and Project Governance, followed by an interactive question and answer session.
The workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to gain practical insights into project planning, governance, and implementation, while strengthening collaboration between academic institutions, government line ministries, private sector stakeholders, and regional experts.
The event was facilitated by Ms. Firmina O. Iyabora, Head of School for the School of Business and Management at SINU.
SINU remains committed to creating learning opportunities that enhance professional development, build institutional capacity, and support national and regional development priorities through education and collaboration.
ENDS//