Nathan Batley is a seasoned development professional with over 15 years’ experience working across Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia in roles spanning governance, systems change and long-term community engagement. He brings a unique dual perspective to his work: extensive knowledge of project design and stakeholder management, combined with a cultural fluency earned from decades of on the ground experience in PNG’s most remote and complex environments.

Raised in a remote village in East Sepik, Nathan’s first language was Tok Pisin and his worldview was shaped by village life. This grounding translates to an ability to build trust quickly, enabling communities to articulate their needs and aspirations in a nuanced way, and working collaboratively to design interventions that actually work.

Nathan led the Australian Government’s Sports for Development program in Manus under DFAT’s Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen initiative. There, he co-designed a four-year provincial strategy, training 60+ community groups across all 12 LLGs in governance, administration, and sports management, transferable skills that many participants have applied in other sectors.

More recently, as the Change Manager for PNG’s most successful landowner owned company, TWL, Nathan has deployed a human-centred design approach to a modernisation of systems and processes, as well as mentoring the company’s next generation of Papua New Guinean leaders.

As Executive Director and Co-Founder of Niu Nature, Nathan leads a PNG-based enterprise focused on building community centric, sustainable economies. Ni Nature’s approach draws from his field-tested experience in strengthening village governance, catalysing local enterprise, and fostering trust and creating market opportunities for communities that are economically viable and anchored in long-term, respectful partnerships.

Nathan holds a Bachelor of Youth Studies (Victoria University) and a Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Assistance (Fordham University). He communicates fluently in both English and Tok Pisin and is widely recognised for his ability to serve as a cultural bridge between grassroots communities and impact-focused partners.