Staff Profile: Mou Looks Forward to a Career in the Public Service.
This month’s staff profile, we feature one of our young officers in the department, Mr. Lawrence Mou who is an Assistant Human Resource, Policy Research and Development Officer with the Strategic Policy and Development Wing of the department.
The 27-year-old hails from Kwalakessi Village in the Talasea District of the West New Britian Province.
In April 2023, Lawrence graduated with a Bachelor of Political Sciences at the University of Papua New Guinea and three months later he joined the Department of Personnel Management through a six-month internship program, along with three other interns.
“As the President of the Political Science Student Association, I negotiated this opportunity by formally writing a letter to the Department of Personnel Management. I was supported by a recommendation letter from Mr. Patrick Kaiku, a lecturer in political science who taught diplomacy and international relation”.
During the internship Lawrence and the three other interns completed a brief report summarizing their tasks and accomplishments and based on this report, Secretary Ms. Tiaes Sansan recommended that the HR department consider retaining them within the department.
“My Executive Manager, Ms. Yuki, recommended that I return to the Strategic Policy Development Division due to the division’s capacity shortage”.
“My primary responsibilities include assisting senior research officers in developing guidelines, procedures, systems, and tools related to policy research. I am also responsible for maintaining a filing system, providing administrative support, and ensuring that branch decisions and directives are implemented.”
He described his experience with the department in the last year as advantageous as he looks forward to building a career in the public service in the next 5 years.
“My time with the DPM has been advantageous, as I have had the opportunity to work on public service policies and collaborate with various government departments, agencies, and international organizations”.
He said, working in the Public Service has been an enriching experience for as he has had the privilege of contributing to the nation’s development and improving citizens’ lives.
“One of the most satisfying aspects of my work has been the opportunity to collaborate with talented and dedicated colleagues from various departments. This interdisciplinary approach has allowed me to better understand the government’s operations and develop valuable problem-solving skills”
When asked to share what his advise would be to new graduates like him, his advice is to prioritize career development over financial gain and embrace the challenges by taking on multiple tasks to continuously learn and grow.
“As Executive Manager Ms. Yuki once said, “The experience you gain from doing the work and tasks given is your asset, meaning no one can take that away. However, the product of your work is the state’s property”.
His long-term goal is to become a senior policy analyst within the Public Service.
He believes that this role will allow him to leverage his analytical skills and expertise to contribute to the development of effective policies that address the challenges facing our nation.
To achieve this goal, Lawrence plans to pursue a master’s degree in public policy and actively participate in professional development programs .
“ I’m particularly proud of my involvement in some of the government’s strategic directives. It’s experiences like these that reinforce my commitment to public service and motivate me to continue making a positive impact”.