FRL Chef Dramen Imeyesep
People are at the heart of everything we do at Frieda River Limited (FRL). Our culture is built on inclusivity, respect, and genuine partnership with the communities who own and share the landscape where we operate. This commitment goes far beyond technical mining roles and extends into every part of our workforce, where local women play essential roles in shaping a safe, enabling, and unified operating environment.
In recognition of International Women’s Day this year, we are celebrating one of our local employees, Dramen Imeyesep, whose contributions strengthen not only our operations on site but also the communities in which our presence is visible and felt.
Dramen’s path to her current role has not been without challenges and determination.
Dramen is a local woman from Sokamin village, one of the seven landowning villages within the Frieda Project area. As a chef at FRL, she plays an essential role in ensuring that the workforce is fuelled, healthy and well cared for. A typical day for her revolves around preparing and serving nutritious meals to about 26-30 people on site and supporting kitchen hands to maintain a smooth catering service.
“I prepare and serve meals and assist kitchen hands to provide a smooth catering service for the workforce here at Frieda River,” she said simply, but her contribution is far from simple. Her professionalism, commitment to high standards, health and safety, and genuine care for her colleagues have made her a valued member of the FRL family.
Dramen’s path to her current role has not been without challenges and determination. After dropping out of Grade 8, she did not see this as the end of the road. Instead, she went on to complete Grades 9 and 10 through FODE and later took up vocational training at Telefomin, studying sewing as well as tourism and hospitality.
When the project scaled down in 2018 after the completion of feasibility studies and the submission of the Environment Impact statement, many chefs and cooks left, leaving her as a kitchen hand without the advanced skills needed for more complex meal preparation, as she had only taken basic cookery during vocational school. But instead of stepping back, she stepped up.
Recognising her potential, PanAust sponsored her to complete Commercial Cookery Level 3 and Kitchen Operations Level 1 through TAFE on site from 2019 to 2020. This training not only transformed her skills, it opened a pathway to the career she now embraces and excels in.
“Now I can prepare good-quality meals, know food hygiene, safe food handling, stock control, and more. This has brought me to where I am today,” she proudly reflects.
Her favourite dish to prepare for employees on site is chicken noodle stir-fry, which she serves happily from time to time as a dinner meal.
For Dramen, working in the mining and resource sector is more than a job, it fosters an environment where she can grow, develop, and feel protected.
“The company can and was able to arrange trainings for my career, upgrade my skills, and provide safety trainings, standard procedures, and policies that protect me from harm,” she explains. “I am happy with my job as every day I get to learn new things from my colleagues.”
Dramen with a Kitchen hand at the FRL site.
Reflecting on the Australia-Pacific theme for International Women’s Day, “Balance the Scales,” she says it represents achieving fairness, equality, and safety especially in a male dominated environment.
“Working in an area where there are more males than females and meeting expectations… industry environments should promote gender equality, safe workplaces, proper equipment, and personal protective equipment,” she said.
As a local employee, Dramen is often looked upon as a role model for women and girls in her village, where she leads and provides advice whenever the opportunity arises. She believes that sharing what she has learned will help them prepare to take up the challenge and pursue roles, perhaps even with the company.
She encourages young women to take advantage of adult literacy programs, company-run capacity-building courses, and community awareness sessions that FRL offers. Whether focused on health, education, or project information, she believes learning empowers women to support not just themselves, but their families and communities as well.
“My encouragement to young girls and women in my village is to study hard at school and complete your education so you can prepare for the future and work like I do today. I strongly recommend vocational studies (TVET) as a great pathway to formal employment in mining camps, hotels, aviation, and many more sectors.
“I always encourage everyone in my community to make the most of it by attending health talks and awareness programs organised and run by the company (FRL), as it will greatly help them know how to live a sustainable life in the village,” she said.
Dramen’s story represents our belief that landowners are not bystanders in development, but valued partners whose skills, resilience, and leadership enrich the very foundation of our work.
The FRL Site team with Dramen commemorating the country’s 50th celebrations in 2025.
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