01/08/2025
He Walked Barefoot to School. Today, He Walks With Honour.🎖️
At sunrise on August 1st, Jacksons International Airport came alive with emotion. Cheers, hugs, and proud smiles filled the arrivals area as Joe Kenken Mok, along with his wife, stepped off the plane. But this wasn’t just any return home this was a hero’s welcome.
Just days earlier, on July 22, Mr. Mok received the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from King Charles himself. The award? A recognition of a life spent not chasing success, but building it not just for himself, but for Papua New Guinea.
Joe’s story doesn’t begin in a boardroom or with a business deal. It starts in the rugged hills of the Western Highlands, in a small village where kids ran barefoot and meals were whatever the land could offer. His tribe, Kopon Kopi, had never produced a major businessman before. But Joe, raised by hardworking parents who farmed for survival, had something powerful, determination.
Each day, young Joe walked over 10 kilometres to school barefoot, tired, and hungry but always moving forward. His journey eventually took him to the University of Papua New Guinea, where he studied Politics, Public Administration, and Economics.
Years later, he would return home with a vision. That vision became Kenmok a business that didn’t just profit, but changed the face of real estate in PNG. More importantly, it inspired others to believe they could do the same.
The OBE is a medal. But to those who know Joe’s story, it’s more than that. It’s a reminder that resilience, education, and a commitment to your people can take you from muddy village trails to royal honours.
A proud moment captured as Mr. Mok and his wife are greeted with love and joy by family and friends at Jacksons Airport.🎖️
~ Logan📷