Farewell Solomon Islands — Our Partnership Has Never Been Stronger
By the time you read this column, I will have concluded my posting to Solomon Islands as Australia’s High Commissioner. I wanted to leave you with some reflections from the last three years.
When I look back on my time in this beautiful country, I’m inspired by what we achieved together. Our partnership has grown stronger across education, health, law and justice, infrastructure, gender equality, climate resilience, and economic development—always guided by the principle of working side by side.
Building infrastructure, creating jobs
Our infrastructure partnership has grown significantly during my time in Solomon Islands, taking me across the country to break ground and hand over assets that drive community and national development. Each project reflects true collaboration, with a focus on employing local workers and using local resources.
Highlights include handing over the new Seghe and Choiseul Bay runways, watching the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre take shape, meeting vendors at refurbished markets in Tulagi and Honiara, contributing facilities for the 2023 Pacific Games, improving mobile connectivity through six new towers in remote provinces, witnessing the signing of the Adamasia undersea cable, and launching phase two of the Community Access and Urban Services Enhancement project.
I’m especially proud of Australia’s shift toward local content, giving Solomon Islands owned construction companies a fair chance to win contracts. This creates skilled jobs, helps families earn an income, and builds a stronger future. With more than 500 infrastructure projects delivered in five years, Australia remains committed to supporting Solomon Islands’ development.
When I first arrived in Honiara, about 5,600 Solomon Islanders had been deployed to Australia under the PALM scheme. Today, that number has more than doubled to over 11,199. We’ve helped grow participation through upskilling in meatworks, hospitality, and aged care. Our support for driver and forklift training has boosted PALM worker employability with Australian businesses, especially in regional areas.
I also witnessed the signing of Australian head quartered New Forests’ agreement to acquire a majority stake in Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd—a major investment in sustainable forestry that will create jobs and build skills for local communities.
I’ve strongly supported business linkages between our countries and thank the private sector for its collaboration. In October, we helped Solomon Islands businesses attend the World Indigenous Business Forum in Melbourne, and in November, supported ten SMEs to join the Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane, expanding networks and opportunities.
Connecting people and empowering communities
I’m proud that during my time in this role, Australia has significantly expanded support for community and rural development in Solomon Islands. When I arrived, the High Commission delivered about 12 projects a year under the old Direct Aid Program. Leaders told us we could do more for grassroots development, so we launched the Community Partnerships Program. Driven by rural communities, it has already supported over 250 projects, including 108 this year, with plans for 100 more annually. It has been an honour to travel to the provinces, often alongside the MPs who have co-funded projects with us, to see firsthand the impact they are making for all Solomon Islanders.
We’ve also strengthened people-to-people ties. Over the past three years we have seen visits to Solomon Islands from the Australian Governor General, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Pacific Islands Affairs, other Cabinet Ministers and numerous Parliamentary delegations. And in return we have had many visits to Australia from the Solomon Islands – including by the Governor General, Prime Minister, Opposition and Independent members, and Cabinet Ministers. These high-level visits strengthen the vibrant and deep partnership between our two countries and produce direct outcomes for the people of Solomon Islands.
In March 2025, I launched the Australia Gender Equality Partnership – a commitment of SBD 49 million over three years for the program Advancing Gender Equality in the Solomon Islands on International Women’s Day. This new investment builds on over SBD200 million over 13-years of advancing gender equality: working with government, NGOs, and civil society to end violence against women, promoting economic empowerment, and enhancing leadership. Through UN Women’s Markets for Change project, we helped establish five Market Vendor Associations and trained over 835 vendors.
We supported Safenet services for over 12,000 survivors of gender based violence, helped over 5,000 members join Women’s Savings Clubs, revitalised women’s councils, supported policies like the National Gender Equality and Women’s Development Strategy, and made progress toward reserved seats for women in Provincial Government. At the same time, our Civil Society Strengthening Program took shape – 120 participants from 69 civil society organisations came together for a first ever Tok Stori to shape community-driven solutions and sustainable development outcomes in climate change, health, disability inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods.
Strengthening service delivery in health and education
In January, I joined Education Minister Tozen Leokana to launch the eight-year Stronger Education Together (SET) program. Australia is investing SBD230 million to improve equitable school access, enhance education quality, and strengthen teacher training, including through the Solomon Islands National University. SET will deliver critical infrastructure, boost Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development’s management capacity, and support NGOs assisting children with disabilities. Australia has been a long-standing education partner for more than 20 years, and this new program reaffirms our commitment to better learning outcomes and skills development.
Another major highlight was launching the Solomon Islands–Australia Health Partnership in March—a four-year, SBD150 million investment to improve healthcare and save lives. Half of this supports provincial primary health care, while a new National Health Priorities Fund provides a means to address other health issues including HIV/STIs, environmental health, and other public health concerns. We reopened the Kukum Area Health Centre and delivered life saving infrastructure, including four biomolecular labs, a 14-bed High Dependency Unit, and SBD9.1 million in emergency medical supplies. Construction of the Naha Birthing and Urban Health Centre is underway and will open in early 2026. Together, we’re building a health system that delivers care where it’s needed most.
Security and resilience for all
Our law, justice and security partnership reached new heights, including a SBD1 billion commitment to expand the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force and build a new Police Academy, and the launch of a new Border Management System for the Solomon Islands Immigration Division. We refurbished High Court facilities, handed over boats for remote court services, and continued supporting electoral reforms after the successful 2024 elections.
In 2025 Australia launched its first bilateral flagship climate program in Solomon Islands. This new SBD26 million partnership with the Ministry of Environment Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology and the Global Green Growth Institute will develop Solomon Islands’ first National Adaptation Plan and mobilise more climate finance from global sources.
As I say goodbye to the Solomon Islands, I want to thank everyone for the kindness and friendship you have shown me. I have so many wonderful memories that I will never forget. This country and its people will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for making my time here so meaningful. Farewell, and I wish you all the very best for the future.
