The 2025 Community Affairs and National Content Conference and Exhibition (CANCONEX) held as a part of the PNG Resource Week has wrapped up as of yesterday, but perhaps what was significant were the six key takeaways from it to further look at. The six strategic takeaways are the formalizing landowner identification frameworks, scaling community-based enterprise models, improving transparency in benefit management, strengthening workforce development for women and youth, fostering long-term employment strategies, and elevating CANCONEX as a central forum for shaping national content policy. From these, three core priorities were identified: empowering landowner-led enterprise development, ensuring inclusive benefit distribution, and building systems for intergenerational transformation. Reflecting on the week’s momentum, PNG CORE Senior Vice President Mr. Richard Kassman said, “CANCONEX is not a side event, it is the heart of our national conversation on inclusive development. It brings together the voices that matter most: landowners, provincial leaders, and communities whose futures are directly tied to the resource sector. This is where policy meets people, and where real progress begins.” The conference was officially opened by Prime Minister James Marape at the start of the week, whose keynote address reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive development and responsible resource management. His presence set a strong tone for the week, highlighting the transformative role of the resource sector in building schools, hospitals, roads, and livelihoods across Papua New Guinea. Hosted by the PNG Chamber of Resources and Energy (PNG CORE), CANCONEX 2025 brought together over 1,400 delegates, 78 exhibitors, and 60 speakers representing national and provincial governments, landowner leaders, resource developers, civil society, and the broader business community. Meanwhile, the Resource Week continues today with the Resources Summit-a high level dialogue on finance, policy, infrastructure, and innovation-and the Gala Dinner featuring the Legacy Awards, which will honour excellence and leadership across the resource sector. These events will carry forward the spirit of CANCONEX, ensuring that technical discussions remain grounded in the human stories and community impact that define Papua New Guinea’s development journey.