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Showing posts from November 23, 2025

Reflection on My First Day Back at Work – Lessons in Project Risk and Management

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Today marked my return to work after the festive season and the beginning of 2026. I did not expect the day to bring such an eye-opening experience — one that made me smile, reflect, and learn. I was confronted by five frustrated workers from the appointed contractor for the JCPU Administration Building project. One of the workers had just been released from temporary detention at the police station after the contractor reported them. You can imagine the emotional state of someone who had just come out of detention — stressed, confused, and upset. I took time to talk with them and quickly noticed several failures in the current project management that contributed to this situation. I believe these setbacks are rooted in the early stages of the project, particularly in the following areas: 1. Procurement system of the project 2. Planning phase, including costing and scheduling 3. Lack of written agreements between the main contractor and subcontractors 4. Incompetence and poor leadershi...
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An Unexpected Ending That Touched My Heart

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
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Tuesday, 25th November 2025, did not end the way I expected. I thought it would be just another ordinary day, but instead, it quietly turned into something meaningful and unforgettable when I attended the SIIP 2025 End-of-Year Cocktail Party . As I walked into the venue, I felt a gentle warmth in my heart. From a distance, familiar faces welcomed me — people I have crossed paths with throughout my career, faces that reminded me of long hours, hard work, struggles, growth, and small victories along the way. In that moment, I felt seen, remembered, and somehow… deeply grounded. It wasn’t just a formal gathering to me. It felt like a quiet celebration of journeys — including my own. I felt grateful beyond words for the opportunity to be there, to stand in that room, and to realise how far I have come from where I started. The speeches by DFAT’s Deputy Commissioner and the SIIP representative touched something deep inside me. Their words were more than speeches — they felt like gentle rem...
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When Theory Meets Reality: My Two Weeks Learning Contracts Management in Solomon Islands

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
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The past two weeks have been intense. Juggling full-time work while attending a Contracts Management short course at SINU pushed me beyond my comfort zone. It ended on 21st November 2025, but the lessons will stay with me much longer. After almost nine years in the construction field, returning to a classroom felt like stepping back in time — to younger days, to familiar lecture rooms, and to that quiet spark of hope that education brings. But this time, something was different. This time, theory met reality. And reality, in the Solomon Islands , it's not always neat. When the Classroom Turned Serious During our sessions, contract management moved from being just textbook knowledge to very real conversations. The classroom atmosphere shifted when we began sharing our lived experiences. Local contractors spoke with frustration. Not anger — frustration. Because what we learnt did not always match what we live every day in the field. That gap was loud. The Reality on the Ground 1. D...
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