Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Steven Matainaho has called for greater trust and cooperation among cybersecurity professionals across the Pacific.
Mr Matainaho made the statement while welcoming delegates and participants to the 2026 Pacific Cyber Security Operational Network (PaCSON) Annual General Meeting in Port Moresby.
He acknowledged Minister for Information and Communications Technology Robert Naguri, members who travelled to PNG for the meeting, PaCSON executives, partners, the Secretariat and Canada.
Reflecting on his time in the ICT sector, Mr Matainaho said he joined the Department in 2019 without fully understanding the scale of the changes taking place in technology and digital services.
He said the rapid transformation taking place in PNG and around the world made it important for leaders to have people and organisations they could trust for advice.
Mr Matainaho said one of the challenges he faced in a leadership position was knowing who he could turn to for reliable advice on ICT matters.
He said technology vendors often approached governments and organisations with different solutions and recommendations.
While recognising the role of vendors, he said their commercial interests meant governments also needed trusted sources of advice.
“You need some entities and you need reference points to go to for advice,” he said.
Mr Matainaho said PaCSON had provided PNG with a community of trusted members who could share information and provide support.
He said PNG had benefited from the network in many ways, both directly and indirectly.
“We are really grateful to have this community,” he said.
Mr Matainaho said the network should continue to grow while building trust among cybersecurity professionals across the region.
He said trust was built between people and that PaCSON provided a way for professionals to develop those relationships.
“Trust is really between and amongst people, and this is where PaCSON is the network that allows us to build trust amongst people,” he said.
He said stronger relationships between people working in cybersecurity would also help countries build greater confidence in the technology they use.
Mr Matainaho thanked PaCSON for allowing PNG to chair the AGM and said the country would continue to support the network.
He welcomed delegates to Port Moresby and encouraged them to make full use of the two days of meetings and workshops.