Sinafa Robby

As a distinguished animal health and biosecurity professional, I have built a diverse and impactful career in Papua New Guinea, spanning research, lab diagnostics, academia, and capacity building in the Agriculture Sector.

My academic journey began with a bachelor's in Agricultural Science from the PNG University of Technology, which I followed with a Master's in Agricultural Science, specializing in Animal Health. I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Animal Health and Disease at the same institution, further deepening my expertise.

My passion for advancing agriculture began in 2010 when I specialized in Farm Animal Production during my undergrad. Driven to make an impact, I immediately pursued postgrad studies while working as a technical officer at the university farm. My Master's thesis, "Village Pig Production Systems and Potential for Improvement," which included research on syndromic disease surveillance for pigs in PNG, laid the foundation for my expertise in animal disease diagnostics and biosecurity.

Eager to expand my skills, I joined the PNG Institute of Medical Research (IMR) in 2013. In this role, I further developed abilities in animal disease diagnostics and biosecurity strategy, with a focus on zoonotic and environmental disease research. Concurrently, I completed a 3-month program at Charles Sturt University, solidifying my knowledge in advanced animal health and disease diagnostics.

Driven to share my expertise, I transitioned into academia in 2019, joining the PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment (UNRE) as an Animal Health and Biosecurity Lecturer. Here, I consolidated my skills to lead the development of PNG's first veterinary paraprofessional training program, the Higher Education Certificate in Fundamentals of Para Veterinary Technology. This pioneering initiative has already graduated 17 specialist human resources contributing to the national animal health sector.

Recognizing the importance of sustainable capacity building, I have institutionalized the paravet curriculum within the mainstream Bachelor of Sustainable Livestock Production, specializing in Animal Health Management at PNG UNRE.

My unwavering passion motivates me to continually leverage my expertise to positively impact the industry and make a lasting difference.