6th LAWASIA Environmental
Lawyers' Network
Friday 17 April 2026 | Zoom Meeting
Synthesizing Extractive Industries and the Law
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on Synthesizing Extractive Industries and the Law, exploring the intersection of legal frameworks, cultural norms, and resource governance in Papua New Guinea.
The session will explore the role of law and judicial systems in governing extractive industries, while also providing contextual insight into Papua New Guinea, including its cultural norms, traditions of benefit sharing, and rights relating to resource exploitation.
Date: Friday 17 April 2026
- 18:00 - 19:00 (Sydney/Canberra)
- 18:00 - 19:00 (Port Moresby)
- 17:00 - 18:00 (Tokyo/Seoul)
- 16:00 - 17:00 (Hong Kong/Singapore/KL/Beijing/Taipei)
- 13:30 - 14:30 (Delhi/Colombo)
- 09:00 - 10:00 (London)
Agenda & Panellists
Speakers
- Professor Paul Martin, director of the Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law in the School of Law at the University of New England, Australia
- Justice Hitelai Dorothea Polume-Kiele, Supreme & National Courts of Papua New Guinea
Click here to view speaker biographies
Introduction by
- Professor Judith Preston
🗂 Session Overview
Following an opening introduction by Professor Preston, this session will take the form of an engaging interview, delving into:
- Justice Polume-Kiele’s legal and cultural background
- The foundations of her thesis on extractive industry and law
- Cultural traditions, including benefit sharing and rights to exploit resources
- Key legal frameworks in Papua New Guinea
- Areas of alignment and tension between legal and cultural norms
- Insights from selected case studies
🔍 Key Discussion Points
- The challenges surrounding extractive industry conflicts
- How effectively the law has addressed these issues
- Where legal frameworks have fallen short
- Broader conclusions and recommendations for law and policy