The Mineral Resources Development Company Limited (MRDC) has appointed Ms. Valentina Kaman as its new Chief Risk Officer (CRO), making her the first woman to join the state-owned investment firm’s C-suite.
The announcement, made on Monday, forms part of a broader strengthening of MRDC’s executive leadership team as the company manages growing assets on behalf of Papua New Guinea’s landowners and provincial governments.
Ms. Kaman, who previously served as General Manager – Legal and Compliance at MRDC, brings more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas sector across both public and private institutions. A lawyer by training, she graduated with a Law Degree from the University of Papua New Guinea in 2003 and later obtained a Diploma in Petroleum Policy Management from Petrad in Norway in 2008.
Her career spans key roles in government and industry. She began in the former Department of Petroleum and Energy (now the National Petroleum Authority), where she served as Principal Legal Officer and Petroleum Warden, handling licensing, contract drafting, benefit-sharing agreements, and dispute resolution under the Oil and Gas Act.
She spent nearly eight years with ExxonMobil PNG Limited on the PNG LNG Project, taking on roles including Government Interface Advisor, Strategic Community Investment Lead, and Corporate Citizenship Community Investment Lead. In these positions, she managed stakeholder relations, community programmes, sponsorships, government advocacy, and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
Since joining MRDC in September 2018, Ms. Kaman has served as Manager Legal and Company Secretary for the MRDC Ok Tedi entities (MRSM, MRCMCA, and MROT 2). She also sits on the boards of Capital Life Insurance, PNG Air, Digicel Foundation, and The Voice Inc.
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MRDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Augustine Mano, welcomed the appointment, describing it as a reflection of the company’s commitment to organisational readiness, disciplined investment, and enhanced governance.
“For five decades, MRDC has carried the responsibility of safeguarding and growing landowner and provincial equity on behalf of Papua New Guinea,” Mr. Mano said. “These appointments demonstrate the depth of leadership within MRDC and our commitment to disciplined investment, strong governance, and sustained community benefit.”
He added that Ms. Kaman’s extensive experience will significantly bolster the company’s risk management capabilities.
“Ms. Kaman’s appointment strengthens MRDC’s ability to identify, manage and mitigate enterprise-wide risks, ensuring the highest standards of compliance across the Group,” Mr. Mano stated.
The appointment comes as MRDC continues to expand its investment portfolio while prioritising transparency, sustainability, and benefits for the resource-owning communities it represents.
