Port Moresby, IBSUniversity — July 4, 2025

The School of Business and Management at IBSUniversity, in collaboration with the Business Entrepreneur School Association (BESA), proudly hosted a transformative guest lecture by His Excellency Jacques Fradin, Ambassador of the European Union to Papua New Guinea. The guest lecture was held at the McPherson Open Arena and brought together students and faculty for a dialogue on leadership at a global perspective.

The program commenced with an official welcome from Mr. Jobin M. Scaria, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academics), who offered students a strong message on the importance of lifelong learning and growth:

“Learn, empty it first, re-learn the things from experts. What you have read from the books or online in 2019 is not the same thing you will see in 2025 or 2029. So, start learning and upgrade yourself,” Mr. Scaria said.

He addressed the value of inviting global leaders to share their experience, thanking the school of Business and Management and the team for their effort.

Introducing the distinguished guest was Dr. Durga Prasad, Head of the School of Business and Management. He spoke of Ambassador Fradin’s long and impactful career, ranging from the French Ministry of Defence to the EU’s strategic planning division in Brussels, and now to his current diplomatic post in Papua New Guinea.

In an unexpected and deeply honest moment, Ambassador Fradin began his address by revealing a drafted a speech from AI — ChatGPT — without his actual words.

“There is not one word from me in that speech. It may sound good — you may have clapped — but it’s crap,” H.E Fradin said.

With this striking admission, he challenged students to resist complacency and urged them to take ownership of their voice and purpose.

“Your talent is to be smarter than AI. Your talent is to be capable of understanding its failures. Don’t be the stupid AI generation who cannot filter what the computer gives them,” he added.

He further encouraged students to take ownership of their privilege to be in a university and use their time wisely to work hard, stay curious, and collaborate:

“My first advice to you: work, work, and work. My second: be curious. And the third: don’t work in isolation. That’s the best recipe for failure,” Ambassador Fradin shared.

Ambassador Fradin’s humility and personal anecdotes — from engineering to the French military to diplomacy — offered students a model for embracing change.

“If you think that because you’re studying business today, you will always be doing the same thing, you’re wrong. When you leave university, still be curious, still be focused, still be ready for change,” he told the students.

He also urged students to focus less on the past and more on their potential:

“The past is a lesson. It’s not your life. Your life is now — and tomorrow.”

The students were privileged to have an interactive session with him where the Q&A session touched on agriculture, entrepreneurship, digital technology, and international trade.

One student inquired about support for small agri-businesses and cocoa export potential in PNG. Ambassador Fradin responded with practical advice: “Before you explore a market, understand the market. Be curious. Look at what the market is about.”

He shared that the EU currently supports an €85 million program across the Pacific, focused on cocoa, vanilla, fisheries, and raw vegetables, and encouraged students to connect with national trade offices and read more about the EU Trade Program for practical opportunities.

When asked about digital transformation, his answer was direct: “We don’t support digital transformation directly in PNG — not because it’s not important, but because others are doing it well. Our priority is to avoid duplication and focus on areas where we can add unique value.”

The session was filled with enthusiasm and excitement from the students who had the chance to speak directly with a global leader.

IBSUniversity extends its heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency Jacques Fradin, with a sincere vote of thanks delivered by Ms. Abinaya Nagamuthu, BESA Coordinator.

All who attended left with an important lesson: “We are all a work in progress.”
Through such engagements, IBSUniversity continues to connect its students with national and international leaders, ensuring they graduate academically equipped and globally informed.