School of Business and Public Policy

Notable Alumni

Our Graduates

The School of Business and Public Policy is proud to count among its graduates some of Papua New Guinea's most distinguished leaders, scholars, and professionals. Their achievements inspire current students and reflect the enduring impact of a UPNG education.

Sir Mekere Morauta

Class of 1970

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (1999–2002)

UPNG's first economics graduate (Bachelor of Economics, 1970). Secretary for Finance through the independence years, then Managing Director of the PNG Banking Corporation and Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea, before serving as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2002.

Hon. James Marape

Class of 1993

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (since 2019)

Bachelor of Arts (1993), postgraduate honours in environmental science (2000) and a Master of Business Administration, all taken at UPNG. Member for Tari-Pori since 2007 and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea since May 2019.

Peter O'Neill

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (2011–2019)

Bachelor of Commerce at UPNG followed by an honours degree in accountancy, and a Certified Practising Accountant from 1989. Member for Ialibu-Pangia and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019.

Sir Bob Dadae

Class of 1988

10th Governor-General of Papua New Guinea (since 2017)

Bachelor of Commerce, 1988, followed by an MBA at Griffith University. An accountant with the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Member for Kabwum before becoming Governor-General of Papua New Guinea in February 2017.

Elizabeth Genia

Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea

Bachelor of Commerce at UPNG and an MBA at the University of Queensland. After four decades at the central bank she was appointed in 2023 as the first woman to serve as Governor of the Bank of Papua New Guinea.

Jeremiah Manele

Class of 1991

Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands (2024–2026)

Bachelor of Arts in politics and public administration, 1991. A career diplomat and former foreign minister, he led the Solomon Islands as Prime Minister from May 2024 to May 2026.

Gordon Darcy Lilo

Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands (2011–2014)

Bachelor of Arts in economics and a postgraduate diploma at UPNG. Twice Minister of Finance of the Solomon Islands before serving as its Prime Minister from 2011 to 2014.