Finkewe Qasung Zurecnuoc is the new President of the Institution of Engineers Papua New Guinea (IEPNG) and Chair of the Professional Engineers Registration Board. Ms Zurecnuoc is Kramer Ausenco PNG’s Lead Electrical Engineer/Manager-Building Services based in Port Moresby.
During her term, she aims to complete the IEPNG Competency Based Assessment (CBA) rollout to ensure all PNG engineers are competent at world standards.
“PNG engineers who graduate from the PNG University of Technology (Unitech) for example, have degrees that are not recognised by the Washington Accord which is the benchmark for engineering qualifications. The CBA enables our engineers to show competency in engineering at that level,” she said.
The CBA also allows PNG engineers to register on the APEC Engineers Roll, and Ms Zurecnuoc and other IEPNG Council and management members will be attending the International Engineers Alliance meeting next month where they will submit IEPNG’s application to be a Provisional Member of the APEC Engineers.
“That means that IEPNG becomes an APEC Engineers member, and IEPNG members can enrol themselves on the APEC Engineers Register so we can have engineer mobility between APEC economies,” she said.
Kramer Ausenco Chief Executive Officer Frank Kramer-who was the first Papua New Guinean IEPNG President-congratulated Ms Zurecnuoc on her election.
He said, “In 1983 Finkewe became the first Papua New Guinean woman to graduate with a Bachelor in Engineering (Power Systems) from Unitech, and in 2019 becomes the first female President of the Institution of Engineers PNG. As a pioneering professional in her field and the industry, Finkewe has had many ‘firsts’ in those 36 years, such as being the first female CEO and Registrar of IEPNG between 2004 and 2006.
“Finkewe’s election means both the first female IEPNG President-her, and the first Papua New Guinean IEPNG President-myself, have been from Kramer Ausenco-an achievement the Group is proud of.
“Finkewe’s passion for engineering, drive, and experience and ability, makes her an important member of our Kramer Ausenco team and an invaluable member of the engineering fraternity in this country and wherever she has and will work abroad. We applaud Finkewe’s well-deserved election as IEPNG President, and look forward to supporting her in her role there.”
Zurecnuoc joined the Society of Professional Engineers (the forerunner of IEPNG) in 1998 and was made a fellow of the institution after 14 years. In 1992 she received another Bachelor in Engineering from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. She has previously been an IEPNG board member and deputy president.
The elected IEPNG Members for 2019/2020 term are: President-Ms Zurecnuoc, Deputy President-Joseph Hamylton, Past President (ex-officio)-Brian Alois, Continuing Elected Member-Christopher Kobal, New Elected Member-Mrs Edea Bouraga, New Elected Member-Andrew Hemetsberger, Continuing Appointed Member-Dan Joseph Tapado, and Continuing Appointed Member-Dan Franz Hemetsberger.
The IEPNG is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of the people of PNG by the responsible and creative application of engineering.
Photo captions
Listing Image: Finkewe on a ferry on the Purari River travelling to Purari Airstrip from Herd Base, Total, Papua LNG.
Banner Image: Frank Kramer who was the first Papua New Guinean IEPNG President, congratulating Ms. Zurecnuoc on her election as IEPNG President-the first woman to hold the position.
Body Image:The Sir Manasupe Haus, the seat of Government in PNG, was named after former Government Chief Secretary the late Sir Manasupe Zurecnuoc, who was Finkewe’s older brother. This is one of the many projects Finkewe has worked on.