STAFF PROFILE:  Ms. Kiniye Lepi Takes One Step at a Time.

This month profile, we feature one of our very hard-working officers in the department, Ms. Kiniye Lepi, an Executive Assistant to Director’s Office Corporate Affairs & Capacity Building (CA &CB) with the Department of Personnel Management.

Ms. Kiniye is 35 years of age who hails from Ialibu-Pangia district in the Southern Highlands Province. she graduated from the prestigious University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Anthropology and minor Political Science.

Passionate about education, she pursued a Graduate Diploma in Education at the University of Goroka (UOG) and became a qualified teacher.  She taught at Mongol Secondary School in Mendi for two years.

However, life has other plans. For personal reasons, Ms. Kiniye made the decision to leave the teaching profession and moved to Port Moresby in search of new opportunities. 

Ms. Kiniye joined the Department of Personnel (DPM) on the 10th of February 2021 and she is been working for five (5)  years.

“I had chosen to work with DPM as it known as the heartbeat of the other public departments and it looks after all the public servants of the nation and it provides governance and support in human resource, management to the public service throughout the nation. I greatly appreciate and value my role at DPM as it gave me the opportunity to learn, grow, and gain valuable experience in personnel management and corporate administration,”  said Ms. Kiniye .

As she continues her journey, Kiniye remains committed to learning and growing, proving that change, when embraced with an open heart, can lead to incredible opportunities. She believes in making a positive impact in the department and contributing to the broader goals of public service in Papua New Guinea.

Generally, for Ms. Kiniye, working as an Executive Assistance to Acting Directors office is very challenging as she deals with confidential information for the officers. Everyday, there are important documents that she has to deal with.

However, she finds that managing these challenges involves dedication and willingness to grow and turn challenges into stepping stone. She found fulfillment in every task, knowing that her role played a small yet vital part in the smooth operation of the department, and this is all because of her passion in her work.

“I love what I do everyday. It keeps me motivated to learn and improve,” she said with a smile.

For Ms. Kiniye, success in any workplace comes down to dedication and a willingness to help others. Patience is also a driving force in her life that keeps her going. As it is also one of the department’s virtue she strongly believes in that.

Thus, team work and a strong work ethic are the keys to not just personal success but also to contributing meaningfully to the organization. Her advice to new staff and young professionals is simple but powerful.

“Whatever task is given to you, attend to it faithfully. Give it your best effort, no matter how small it may seem. And if other divisions or colleagues need assistance, always be ready to extend your knowledge and skills,” she advice.

She believes that true growth comes from stepping beyond one’s comfort zone and being open to learning from different roles and responsibilities.