Arnold, one of our senior supervisors in PNG, has clocked up more than 13 years with Monadelphous, including eight years based on Lihir Island.
In that time, he’s seen a lot change.
What began as a small contractor presence has grown significantly.
“It has grown from small to big in terms of manpower, equipment and machinery,” Arnold said.
Arnold’s own journey mirrors that growth. Starting as a tradesman boilermaker, he’s now a senior supervisor with plenty of leadership lessons under his belt.
He’s learned how to deal with people, how to plan jobs to meet quality and standards, and how to stay on top of systems and procedures. Transitioning from the tools into supervision hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been worth it.
He puts his long service down to the values that guide the way work is done.
“Because of its pillars on safety, quality, and production/schedules,” he said.
“The safe way is the only way.”
Like any leadership role, his comes with its fair share of challenges. For Arnold, that includes developing his computer skills and supporting others to grow in their thinking and behaviour. He’s big on speaking up and asking questions when things aren’t clear.
He’s found his own rhythm on Lihir, managing the balance between work and personal life through planning and good time management. Downtime usually means catching up with workmates, having a laugh, and making the most of the close-knit camp culture.
One memory that stands out for Arnold is when the team would explore the island on their days off. For him, PNG isn’t just a place of work—it’s home. “It’s home to me, and I would like to explore more places like Australia.”
Arnold also had a message for expats thinking about working in PNG – come with an open mind.
“Feel free to come and work here as we are not in the colonial days anymore and try to understand our culture.”