Dr Pamela Toliman, Deputy Head of the Surveillance and Outbreaks Unit at the PNG Institute of Medical Research, holds a Ph.D. in molecular diagnostics and epidemiology from UNSW Sydney. Her pioneering work in cervical cancer screening introduced PNG’s first HPV molecular data and informed national policy. She co-leads major public health and surveillance programs, contributed to COVID-19 and HIV diagnostics, and champions women in STEM, earning multiple national and international awards.