Bridget Laimo

I have successfully managed my consultancy business called Albatross Integrated for over 10 years. We have worked with multinational companies, local companies, government agencies and community based organizations.

Below are some of the recent organisations I have worked for through my business.

The Compensation and Relocation Agreement (CRA) for Lihir Island is a state-sanctioned process involving multiple stakeholders signed in 2019, including Lihir Gold Limited (LGL), Newmont Corporation, the Nimamar Local Level Government, and the New Ireland Provincial Government. The agreement aims to address the impacts of mining activities on the local communities by providing compensation and relocation benefits to the affected landowners. The CRA package involves 13 tenement holders who benefit from K60 million annually. The role is to:

• Develop financial systems for reporting financial benefits as per the 2019 CRA agreement to the Developer and CRA beneficiaries
• Develop financial manuals for each business group
• Provide training to staff for each business group representing 13 tenements on book keeping and basic accounting
• Provide training to CRA Executives on interpretation of financial reports and finance policies

The Morobe Provincial Government's Position paper on Wafi-Golpi documented MPG's position on the benefit sharing arrangements and for the provincial government as well as the landowners.

I led a team who drafted the Position Paper and presented it to the Provincial Executive Council (PEC). The paper was approved in draft and handed over to the new governor when the government changed in 2022. The paper has since been presented to the Prime Minister. My specific role was to:

• Engage with legal teams to determine a new possible framework for landowner benefits in the Wafi-Golpu Project
• Engage with landowners of the project impact areas to gauge their views on benefits and issues
• Engage with provincial government executives to document MPG's vision for the project

We consulted with over 400 people whose views were captured in the Position Paper that now forms a basis for an MOA in PNG's next big mining project.

This position was outsourced to me through a Consultancy Agreement. In this strategic role, I:

• Monitored financial performance, set budgets and controlled expenses to provide financial stability and long-term organizational growth.
• Managed partnerships and strategic business relationships by negotiating contract terms and handling conflicts.
• Collaborated with legal, accounting and other professional teams to review and maintain compliance with regulations.
• Managed financial, operational and human resources to optimize business performance.
• Communicated business performance, forecasts and strategies to the board
• Identified new revenue generation opportunities to maximize bottom-line profitability.

Achievements

• Successfully implemented a share buy back scheme for the Holding Company
• Increased the profit of the Engineering subsidiary and ultimately the Net Assets Position by 20%
• Put in place new procedures and a new Accounting system to increase governance
• Negotiated and finalised working capital financing arrangements for the Australian subsidiary
• Drafted and presented a board charter to the board
• Put together succession plan and successfully recruited a replacement for my role before I left the company.

I should also add here that I was made a director for the Australian subsidiary, a position I current hold.

During 2009 and 2010, the Anitua Group was going through some restructuring following the negotiations with NML for additional benefits for clan companies.

Through my consultancy business, I was engaged as a Business Consultant to assist in certain areas. My role included:

• Setting up startup businesses for clans and reviewing service contracts with the developer
• Developed complete business plans and operational strategies for the new businesses
• For existing businesses, participated in restructuring of organization internal processes, resulting in improved performance. This was particularly for Anitua's drilling and mine services companies

The Global Fund has three core grants categories active in Papua New Guinea. The grant supports programs against HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria to help counter and reduce any resurgence in the country.

Reporting to Washington DC, through Emerging Markets group, my role was to:

• Routine verification of financial data, making disbursement recommendation and
  progress review to the Global Fund
• Consider Principal Recipient’s financial implementation progress/performance in
  relation to its plans
• Review address Principal Recipient’s demonstrated financial accountability
• Progress/performance and any specific risks faced by the Principal Recipient or
  program

I was engaged by either DFAT directly or through its relevant Managing Contractors as part of a team to review selected projects in PNG. Some of these includes:

• Independent Completion Review of Australian Targetted Training Facility (PATTAF), Port Moresby, 2007
• Contractor Performance Assessment, PNG Law & Justice, 2007, 2008 and 2009
• Mid Term Reports for PNG Education Capacity Building Project, PNG Basic Education Development Project, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Engaged by Placerdome Limited, the operators of the Porgera mine in Enga (before it was sold to Barrick Limited) to assist Landowner companies under the Mining Agreement obligations. The role included:

• Develop and implementation of accounting and financial internal control procedures
• Preparation and presentation of statutory financial statements
  on behalf of board of directors
• Liase with tax agents and external financial auditors on behalf of the management or board
• Recruitment, training and mentoring of finance staff

Assisted partners or managers in leading audit teams to perform external independent audits. Core clients were in retail, banking and mining. My clients included:

• Lihir Gold Mine (prior to Newcrest taking over)
• Porgera Gold Mine
• Ok Tedi Mining Limited
• Anitua Group
• Steamships Group