Background

Dr Charles is a TB Public Health Physician working with Burnet Institute in Papua New Guinea (PNG). He has acquired extensive knowledge and experience in the clinical management of the TB disease, whist working at the TB Centre of Excellence and the National Referral and Teaching Hospital in PNG (Port Moresby General Hospital).

Joining Burnet in 2022, Dr Charles has extended his support to build TB capacity in the TB high-burden provinces in PNG and also in the Solomon Islands. He is an integral part of the Burnet PNG Leadership Team and the PNG National TB Program (NTP) advocating for program alignments and contributing to the development of the National TB Guidelines. 

Currently, Dr Charles is at the forefront of implementing the recent WHO-approved BPaL(M) regimen in the country. 

Qualifications

• 2020: MPH-MBA, James Cook University, Australia
• 2008: MBBS, University of Papua New Guinea, Papua New Guinea

Appointments

• June 2024 – current: Burnet PNG Oversight Technical Committee

Positions

• November 2024–current: Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness Lead (Papua New Guinea), Burnet Institute, Papua New Guinea
• May 2022– current: TB Public Health Physician, Burnet Institute, Papua New Guinea
• 2014–2022 April: TB Medical Officer, Port Moresby General Hospital
• 2011–2013: TB/HIV Coordinator; Remote Site Medical Officer, International SOS, PNG Ltd

Awards

• 2018: PNG Australia Awards cohort to undertake post-graduate studies at James Cook University