A second cohort of local media leaders has completed the General Manager Program at the University of New South Wales, an opportunity made possible through support from the Australian Government.
This round included three female participants: ZFM Station Manager Ruthina Koroa, Solomon Star and PAOA FM co-owner Elizabeth Siota, and In-depth Solomons co-owner Georgina Maka’a.
Held from 2–10 August 2024, the program was designed to strengthen leadership capability, deepen functional knowledge, and equip participants with the strategic insight needed to drive organisational performance.
In a statement released by the Australian High Commission, Maka’a described the program as “very positive.”
“I learned a great deal about how to run a business,” Maka’a said.
“As someone with little prior knowledge in this area, the program came at the perfect time for me…I want to express my gratitude to the Australian Government for recognising the important role media plays by sending media leaders to enhance their knowledge for improved outcomes. Thank you for this invaluable opportunity.”
For Siota, a major takeaway from the program was adaptability to change.
“With the changes that are now constantly happening across our many businesses, the General Manager program is great because it taught us ways to adapt to these changes.”
Koroa also shared her experience, describing it as “transformative.”
“Being able to sit at a table with brilliant minds from such diverse fields — including from the Australian Department of Defence, a global hotel chain executive, a director from a giant tech company, and a construction business owner — has been both humbling and inspiring,” she said.
“It is fascinating to see how, despite our different industries, we share similar challenges on a human level… These lessons will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on my professional journey.”
In the first cohort, held from 17–25 March 2024, participants included Lloyd Loji, Managing Director of The Island Sun newspaper; Joel Lamani, owner and CEO of Solomon Star and PAOA FM; and Christopher Adifaka, Station Manager of Barava FM
