Santos Global Support Centre academy, a catalyst for leadership development

Santos’ pioneering Global Support Centre in Port Moresby is creating more pathways to enhance skills and leadership development for young Papua New Guineans with the recent establishment of the Global Support Centre Academy.

The establishment of the Santos Global Support Centre Academy in Port Moresby marks a significant step in leadership development and skills enhancement for young Papua New Guineans.

Announced by Santos Country Chair PNG, Leon Buskens, during the recent Australia Papua New Guinea Business Forum, this initiative underscores the company’s dedication to local employment and skill-building.

Launched in March 2024 with the support of Prime Minister James Marape, the Santos Global Support Centre aims to ‘in-source’ engineering and maintenance roles, focusing on employing PNG nationals to support the Eastern Australia PNG asset portfolio. Staff from the Global Support Centre are also gaining valuable insights by visiting Australian facilities.

As Papua New Guinea approaches its 50th Independence Jubilee, the partnership between Santos and the PNG people is a testament to mutual growth and development, positioning the company not just as an energy provider but as a catalyst for national progress.

“We are also proud to welcome our first graduates to the Santos Global Support Centre Academy a year after the launch of the Global Support Centre itself. This demonstrates our ongoing commitment to PNG and local workforce development with very close support of the Santos Australia business.

Mr. Buskens highlighted the academy’s role in nurturing top graduates from leading universities in PNG, celebrating the first cohort just a year after the launch of the Global Support Centre. This initiative reflects Santos’s commitment to local workforce development, with over 90% of roles held by PNG citizens and 80% of leadership positions occupied by locals. And all this is backed by business merits.