Summary of Relevant Experience

Dr Clement Malau is recognised as an expert in regional health issues throughout PNG and Pacific. Using his extensive network of regional and international health organisations, Dr Malau has been instrumental in facilitating regional harmonisation of health programs. This has been critical for pooling technical and financial resources to meet Pacific country health needs.
By developing linkages between governments, NGOs, and donors, Dr Malau has facilitated understanding of regional health challenges and enabled the development of mechanisms to respond to a range of regional health issues. Having worked with the PNG NDoH and overseen the PNG National AIDS Council emerge as the peak coordinating body for PNG’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic; Dr Malau has established close working relationships with WHO and international donors in the region. Dr Malau established a framework for regional coordination between WHO Ministers of Health and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Heads of Health Services, through the negotiation of a MoU. As Program Director on the Regional HIV/AIDS Project, Dr Malau used his strong regional networks to facilitate collaboration with SPC and AusAID to enable coordinated inputs between key regional donors.
Dr Malau draws on his global experience from WHO, AusAID, Harvard School of Public Health, the Burnet Institute and other international health organisations to teach students at Monash University and provide technical input into the design and implementation of Burnet Institute’s health program.

Professional Experience

2007 – Present
Chief executive to the Government of Papua New Guinea as Secretary for Health. Mainly responsible for advice to the Government and is responsible for the heath systems development in Papua New Guinea. Appointed as Secretary for Health National Department of Heath of Papua New Guinea and took up the appointment on the 24th of August 2007.
2003- 2007, Australia, Public Health Specialist, Burnet Institute. Working with Australia’s leading independent medical research institute, Dr Malau provides technical support to health sector programs throughout Asia-Pacific and lectures students in public health management.

With a team of eight experts, Dr Malau provides strategic and technical advice to the PNG National Aids Council Secretariat on national responses to HIV/AIDS and conducts participatory workshops to develop leadership capacity within the Secretariat. Through the Asia-Pacific Leadership Forum, Dr Malau trains senior government officials from regional health departments in the management of HIV/AIDS. In doing so, Dr Malau develops capacity for health departments, other sectors of government and the private sector to take the lead in regional initiatives to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS. 

A key outcome of Dr Malau’s work has been the development of linkages between regional health organisations enabling a coordinated response to regional HIV/AIDS initiatives. This includes the AusAID funded Pacific Regional HIV/AIDS project where Dr Malau, in his role as Project Director, negotiated collaboration with SPC to enable a coordinated response to HIV in the Pacific Islands including SPC’s input to the development of the regional strategic plan – the major output for component 1 of the project. Through SPC, 14 countries are linked into the project allowing better prioritisation and mobilisation of regional resources.
As Honorary Lecturer at Monash University, Dr Malau lectures studentsin a range of public health sector management and strategic issues, drawing on his extensive networks to highlight contemporary solutions to regional health issues.
More recent work has included project design of a community based Sexually Transmitted Infection control programme in the Gazelle district of the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea and involvement in the implementation of the Leadership Support Initiative of the Leadership strategy on HIV and AIDS in PNG.
Currently has been selected by Cabinet in PNG as Secretary of Health to head the national Department of Health in the country. He is on leave without pay from the Burnet institute awaiting court outcome on the selection process of the Secretary of Health. This will take a few months and therefore is seeking short term consultancy opportunities until such time the court resolves and clarifies the matter.

2002-2003, Timor Leste (1 year),, Manager, Health Project Management Unit (HPMU), World Bank. Reporting to the Minister of Health, Dr Malau led a team of six multinational staff in supporting the rehabilitation and reconstruction of health services. He oversaw the implementation of the work programme developed by the Ministry of Health in consultation with the World Bank and the disbursement of the Health Sector Trust Fund. Operating with limited middle management capacity, Dr Malau and his team trained and mentored Health Department partners to undertake higher-level management tasks. Another key challenge was managing the relationship with World Bank oversight consultants unfamiliar with post-conflict environments. Achieving the establishment of 27 new clinics, and refurbishment of 10 existing clinics, demonstrated Dr Malau’s ability to liaise closely with national partners and develop relationships with international donors. In consultation with the Head of the Health services in Timor Leste, Dr Malau also assisted in developing health sector policies including the Standard Treatment of Common Illness and Timor Leste’s HIV/AIDS National Strategy.   

1. 1999-2002, PNG (3 years), National Aids Council (NAC) Secretariat, Director. Reporting to the PNG National AIDS Council, Dr Malau oversaw the development of a multi-sectoral mechanism to address HIV/AIDS in PNG. The resulting establishment of NAC, has enabled a coordinated implementation of the National Aids Council Act and the PNG Medium Term Plan to address HIV/AIDS.
2. Having established NAC, Dr Malau worked closely with the Censorship Board and National Media Council to produce culturally sensitive programs to raise community awareness on the cause and spread of HIV/AIDS. Despite initial public controversy, Dr Malau managed relationships with key government partners and led NAC to become recognised as the peak coordinating body for PNG’s response to HIV/AIDS. He also negotiated with AusAID, WHO, UNICEF, EU and other donor bodies in the design and implementation of HIV/AIDS programs.    

1996-1999, New Caledonia (3 years), Community Health Program of the South Pacific Commission (SPC), Manager. During his secondment from the PNG NDoH, Dr Malau managed close working relationships with donor agencies, developed strong regional networks and facilitated resource mobilisation for projects. In consultation with the 22 Pacific country Heads of Health Services, Dr Malau created a participatory operational process to encourage Heads of Health Services to take an active role in developing regional initiatives. Underpinning this was the MoU Dr Malau facilitated between WHO and the SPC Secretariat. By combining the WHO Ministers of Health, and the SPC Heads of Health Services, regional priorities and strategies could be decided and coordinated. Dr Malau negotiated the AusAID funded Regional Vector Bourne Disease Project and Regional Heath Promotion Project, and the NZODA funded Regional Health Sector Management Project and Regional Tuberculosis Project. Leading a team that expanded from six in 1996 and a total of nineteen by the end of 1999, Dr Malau provided management oversight to these programs and developed strong regional networks with health sector organisations. He also worked towards establishing linkages between the SPC and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to enhance political involvement in advocacy for health and well-being in the region.

1986-1995, PNG (9 years), National Department of Health (NDoH), Coordinator - Communicable Disease Control Program. Working for the NDoH, Dr Malau oversaw the design and implementation of provincial level programs in Tuberculosis, Malaria, Leprosy, AIDS and STD, and all other communicable diseases including the diseases of outbreak importance. Reporting to the First Assistant Secretary Public Health Services, Dr Malau worked with Provincial Disease Control Officers and regional epidemiologists; ensuring program implementation was consistent with the National Health Plan and regional initiatives. In collaboration with WHO, Leprosy Mission and the Sasakawa Memorial Health Foundation of Japan, Dr Malau initiated the successful PNG National Leprosy Elimination Program.

1982-1986, PNG (4 years), PNG Defence Force (PNGDEF), Various Medical Officer Positions. In his role as Officer in Charge, Dr Malau led 40 staff in managing the major referral Health Centre for the PNGDEF which provided a range of curative and clinical services.