Posts

Showing posts from November 30, 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...
Post a Comment
Read more

ACOM’s End-Year Christmas Party: A Beautiful Island Celebration

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Image
Yesterday was ACOM’s end-year Christmas party, and what a joyful island celebration it was. The day was filled with fun, food, laughter, and the kind of togetherness that reminds you why our culture is so special. Staff, families, and friends all gathered in true island spirit. Children were running around on the sand, swimming in the ocean, and enjoying every moment. Their laughter carried through the sea breeze, adding to the happiness of the day. The venue was Amazing Grace, located about 1KM from Corona Market toward the seaside on East Guadalcanal. The place truly lived up to its name. The ocean view, peaceful atmosphere, and natural beauty made the whole event even more meaningful. Everyone felt at home and fully enjoyed the space. It was also an eye-opening experience. There is a powerful story behind Amazing Grace itself—one that speaks of humble beginnings, determination, and faith. If you’re curious, you can follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram on below links. https...
Post a Comment
Read more

An Evening Walk From All Saints to Mt Austin Heights

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Image
Yesterday, I decided to take an evening walk from the office at All Saints back home to Mt Austin Heights . I left around 5:40 PM and didn’t reach home until 8:15 PM — a long walk, but such a wonderful one. I genuinely enjoyed the whole journey. By the time I went to bed, my body felt lighter, my sleep came easily, and for once, I woke up without any back pain or body aches. It made me realise how much my body actually needs this kind of movement. Despite the distance, I think this is something I should do more often after work. The walk itself wasn’t boring at all. Honiara evenings always come with a bit of unexpected colour. Yesterday, I came across two vehicles packed with people shouting and celebrating loudly. In Honiara, scenes like that usually mean one of two things — either a football team has won, or a cultural marriage celebration is taking place, where the bride is brought from her family to the groom’s side. I couldn’t tell which one it was yesterday, but it definitely...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Small Achievement Worth Smiling About

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Image
I wouldn’t really call it a graduation day —more like a certificate-giving day. Weird, right? But anyway, it all started around 3:45 pm while I was staring at my office screen. Suddenly, my phone rang loudly, shocking me out of my thoughts. Wondering who it might be, I answered. “Hello?” “Ivory! Bae you no come?” one of my classmates from the contract management course said. “Eh? Come where? What happen?” “Mifala everyone lo here now. Today graduation day blo umi!” “Really?” I asked, still confused. “Yeah, everyone lo here nao.” Without even thinking twice, I just said, “Ok, me come distaem.” I grabbed a cab and headed straight to the venue. Opening the door slowly, I walked in and saw many familiar and new faces. Some were already eating, others still lining up for food. I was welcomed in and joined the line like nothing happened. After settling down, I ended up having a nice chat with the SINU Dean and the SIIP representatives . Soon after, the Dean handed me my Certificate in Cont...
Post a Comment
Read more

Reflection

By Ivory waki / Solvoice
Image
These past three weeks at ACOM , stepping in as the new Project Manager for the John Coleridge Patteson University (JCPU), have honestly felt like a bit of a witch hunt . Everything is new, everyone is watching, and the project itself is bigger than anything I’ve managed before. It has been challenging, but also eye-opening. As overwhelming as it looked at first, spending time going through the documents helped me understand the project’s true shape. Today I managed to finish Draft 1 of my Annual Work Plan , which will guide me as I prepare a more detailed Annual Implementation Plan for 2026 .   To make sense of everything, I have broken the JCPU work into four main clusters:   1. Core JCPU Institutional Set-Up Governance and legal establishment Academic accreditation   2. Infrastructure & Campus Development Kosu master plan execution Health infrastructure MSSC senior secondary school   3. Sustainability & Business Development Agribusiness & far...
Post a Comment
Read more