This year the 2024 PNG Update, to be held at the University of Papua New Guinea’s Waigani campus on 21–22 August, is promising to once again showcase some of the most important research conducted within the country. Attracting over 1, 500 people, the annual event brings together academics, policy makers, business, civil society and the public to hear about research on key development issues facing the country. Jointly organised by the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Business and Public Policy and the Australian National University’s Development Policy Centre since 2013, the event has developed a reputation for featuring high quality policy-relevant research. Dr Lawrence Sause states that he’s seen first-hand the impact these presentations have had, with politicians, senior bureaucrats, and civil society leaders engaging with ideas that have subsequently shaped their own work. “The PNG Update is a UPNG ANU partnership committed to showcasing the most important and cutting- edge research to help improve policies, advocacy and practice in the country.” Given the importance of stability for social and economic development, this year’s theme is “Securing a stable environment for growth and development.” The Update will be officially opened by Prime Minister James Marape, a regular face at the conference in recent years and an ardent supporter of research and development, regularly inviting PNG researchers for their input into Government policy making. One unique aspect of PNG Update is the active support from leaders with different political orientations. This year will be no different, with Thursday morning’s sessions beginning with addresses from member of the Opposition Allan Bird, the East Sepik Governor and by Francesca Semoso the MP for North Bougainville. The conference will also feature two plenary sessions: one on PNG’s medium-term economic outlook and the second on security and geopolitics in the region and its implications for PNG. This year there will be over 70 presentations from researchers from across the country and the region. Along with the afore mentioned leaders, they will be joined by senior diplomats – including Australia’s High Commissioner Mr. John Feakes – and academics, with PNG’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr Cecilia Nembou, and Chancellor, Robert Igara, along with Director of ANU’s Crawford school, Professor Janine O’Flynn providing opening remarks. Conference co-convenor Associate Professor Grant Walton from the Development Policy Centre at ANU, who has been involved with the conference since 2015, states that the PNG Update just keeps getting bigger and better every year. “It features an amazing array of mostly Papua New Guinean scholars presenting policy relevant research on a range of critical issues facing the country.” Topics covered range from family and sexual violence in PNG, teaching and education, agriculture and forestry, labour mobility and the impact of its various schemes, politics and governance, climate change, sorcery and gender, land issues, and many more.