PS MPS Luke Cheka, DS GPM MPS, Ian Rakafia and Dr. Kristina Fidali (Consultant) being welcomed by Director IPAM at the opening, with AVI Pam Waters (far right) and LDP participants in attendance
THE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (LDP) 2026 COHORT OFFERED BY IPAM BEGAN WITH A BRIEF OPENING
The Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), began the 2026 Leadership Development Program with a brief, but significant opening program. This is the second cohort of the LDP since the pilot program in 2025.
The Leadership Development Program is a homegrown leadership development initiative developed in IPAM, to build the capacity of emerging and practising public service leaders. The aim is to enable public service leaders to be competent and skilled to take on the leadership role in their various sectors when they are called upon to lead. The 2026 LDP cohort consists of twenty-seven senior public service leaders, from eight ministries and three agencies.
LDP Participants listening to the PS MPS remarks
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Service Mr. Luke Cheka emphasised that… “the Solomon Islands Public Service Transformational Strategy 2023 – 2033 sees leadership as one of the important pathways to transform the public service, and thus, the LDP is one of the strategies along this route…”. He stated that, the
Mr. Cheka further emphasized that, the public service requires leaders who can uphold quality service delivery while ensuring that our institutions are prepared to meet future challenges and opportunities.
In attendance also is, Dr. Kristina Fidali, a consultant with UNDP. Dr. Fidali is supporting leadership development and growth, through the resilience lens. Her intervention provides an overview on leadership responsibility by building resilient thinking and behaviours in a complex system such as, our ministries and agencies, thus enabling leaders to adapt and learn under high pressure, and complex challenges.
The LDP is facilitated by Leadership and Management Development (LMD) Unit in IPAM, with the support of Australia Volunteer International personnel, Pam Waters who is attached to IPAM since 2025. The LDP commenced on the 3rd June, 2026, and will be completed by the 19th June, 2026.