LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The PNG Chiefs have made a significant move in their journey toward joining the NRL by appointing Lorna McPherson as their first Chief Executive Officer. This decision was announced on Wednesday and marks an important milestone for the franchise as it prepares for its NRL debut.
McPherson comes with over 16 years of experience in commercial and sports leadership within Papua New Guinea, contributing significantly to the development of rugby league in the area. Her previous roles include serving as the Director of the PNG Rugby Football League and, more recently, as the Director of the PNG Chiefs. Additionally, she held senior executive positions at Digicel PNG, where her responsibilities encompassed government relations, sales, distribution, retail, and marketing.
She played a pivotal role in transforming the Digicel ExxonMobil Cup into a unified national competition and was instrumental in establishing elite women's rugby league in PNG through the Santos Cup.
ARLC chairman Peter V'landys emphasized the importance of McPherson's appointment in building a strong foundation for the new franchise. "Lorna has an outstanding track record of success in business and has been deeply embedded in rugby league in PNG for over 16 years," V'landys noted.