Melvin K. Jensen is a Papua New Guinea national and Australian citizen who migrated to, and grew up in, Australia. He possesses 25 years of knowledge, skill and experience in the mining and civil design, and construction industry.
A note from our Director/Chairman
“I believe my gold mining company can provide a real delivery on the promise of delivering a brighter future for Papua New Guineans over the next 20 years. I also believe my vision for the PNG mining industry will help to secure the future of this great island continent for the next decade and beyond – to help PNG build and grow its way out of this crisis and relieve the suffering of its people, releasing them from their present conditions.
“My ethical mining company will provide the starting point, and will be looking above and beyond the horizon towards the long-term when it comes to the future of PNG. My way of doing business is built on sustaining ourselves not only for today, but for tomorrow and beyond.
“I aim to empower communities to make a major shift towards achieving long term economic prosperity by changing the role of mining to be the catalyst, rather than the sole economic activity, but I can’t do it alone. It is vital for corporate PNG and the public sector to forge partnerships with a broad range of stakeholders to engage in large-scale programs that advance local sustainable development.
“Fundamentally, the tangible effect will be the creation of thriving, empowered and self- sufficient, self-reliant communities. This will be a critical goal as I will be one of PNG’s most significant players in the mining industry, I would not exist if it were not for my communities/tribes. It is in my host communities where I will mine the mineral resources that will power PNG’S economy and drive the country’s growth.
“For the past 10 years I desperately tried to navigate my way through a plethora of research on the country’s uncertain and unworkable policy environment as they pertain to mining – through much legal activity and debate I came to discover mining production came to a halt due to corruption and shady legal activities. Systematic leadership failure contributed largely towards logistical constraints such as inadequate infrastructure systems and poor energy supplies.
“The mining sector had stagnated and this affected the whole country’s economy and growth. This major resource exploitation has caused local landowners and host communities to contest principally with the PNG national government regarding the distribution of mineral revenues, serious environmental damages from mine tailings and displaced host communities being ignored. Displacement has been a constant problem since PNG achieved independence in 1975.
“My aim is to set a standard of cooperation and corporate responsibility by respecting the rights of people that host mining operations, mining workers and the environment. I want to be the first mining company to be accepted into the Business Call to Action, a global initiative which challenges large scale international mining companies to apply their business and technological expertise to tackle poverty and contribute to achieve the millennium development goal.
“This goal entails putting an end to evicting and impoverishing rural and disadvantaged communities, ending the manipulation of the democratic process and the rule of law which are all exploiting conflicts for personal gain. And stopping associated human rights abuses, worker rights abuses, environmental destruction and corporate irresponsibility.
“I was fortunate enough to be brought up in the Western World, within Australia. A country with a heritage of ethical values and equitable social norms, belief systems, political systems, cutting-edge technologies, and a democratic system of governance. A country that has made major advances in philosophy, science and mathematics, literature, engineering, law & order, political organisation, scientific methods, and so on, resulting in globalisation and human migration.
“I will use my mining company to promote and introduce a western culture characterised by a self-reliant system in my ethical mining company’s host communities and the state/province of East Sepik. To aid in this, I will work closely with local, state government and host community leaders.
“Together we can create common sense of values, transform and empower our people to realize their full potential.
“The key areas I will focus on include, economic development, health, education, social empowerment, the environment, the supporting municipal, provincial and state government to upskill and improve service delivery.
“I want to provide first-world information and communication technology in schools and communities by building telecommunication towers and the construction of early childhood development centres from kindergarten through to high school which are up to par of Australian/New Zealand standards, and so much more.
“This will contribute towards creating an enabling environment to invite, promote and boost tourism and agriculture in the provinces, and drive educational and economic development by creating small, medium and micro enterprises, suppliers and enterprise development.”
Melvin K. Jensen Director/Chairman
