This is a list of notable Papua New Guineans, people from

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

Politics

*Dame

Josephine Abaijah Dame Josephine Abaijah, (born 23 June 1940) is a Papua New Guinean former politician. She was the first woman to be elected to the House of Assembly in 1972. Biography Born in Misima and one of 17 children, Abaijah began working in the Departm ...

, former politician *Sir Cecil Abel, missionary, teacher and politician *Sir Peter Barter, former MP for Madang Regional *Sir

Julius Chan Sir Julius Chan (born 29 August 1939) served as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He is Member of Parliament for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election. He is also the c ...

, former Prime Minister *Sir John Guise, former Governor General of Papua New Guinea * Chris Haiveta, former MP and Governor for Gulf *

Joseph Kabui Joseph Canisius Kabui (1954 – 7 June 2008) was a secessionist leader and the first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, off the coast of Papua New Guinea, from 2005 to 2008. He was also the leader of the Bougainville People's C ...

, secessionist leader then first President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville *Dame

Carol Kidu Dame Carol Anne Kidu ( Millwater; born 10 October 1948), also known as Carol, Lady Kidu, DBE, is an Australian-born Papua New Guinean politician. Kidu was the only female Member of Parliament in the 2002–2007 and 2007–2012 National Pa ...

, MP for Moresby South *Sir

Charles Lepani Sir Charles Lepani (born ???) is a former public servant and diplomat from Papua New Guinea. He was the country's high commissioner in Australia from 2005 to 2017 and, prior to that, had been its ambassador to both the European Union and sever ...

, diplomat *Sir Pita Lus, outspoken politician *Sir

Albert Maori Kiki Sir Albert Maori Kiki (21 September 193113 March 1993) was a Papua New Guinea politician. He was one of the founders of the Pangu Party, which demanded 'home rule leading to eventual independence' for New Guinea. Born in the Kerema district on the ...

* Allan Marat, MP for Rabaul *Sir Paul Lapun, first Papua New Guinean to receive a knighthood *Sir

Paulias Matane Sir Paulias Nguna Matane (21 September 1931 – 12 December 2021) was a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the eighth Governor-General of Papua New Guinea from 29 June 2004 to 13 December 2010. His memoir ''My Childhood in New Guinea'' ...

, former Governor General of PNG *

John Momis John Momis (born 3 March 1942) is a Bougainvillean politician who served as the President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in Papua New Guinea between 2010 and 2020. Momis served as a Catholic priest from 1970 until 1993, becoming active ...

, MP, current President of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (2010–) *Sir

Mekere Morauta The Right Honourable Sir Mekere Morauta (12 June 1946 – 19 December 2020) was a Papua New Guinean politician and economist who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1999 to 2002. Inheriting a depressed economy and a fra ...

, former prime minister * Jeffrey Nape, Speaker of Parliament (2007–2012) *Sir

Rabbie Namaliu Sir Rabbie Langanai Namaliu (born 3 April 1947) is a Papua New Guinea politician. He served as the fourth Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. from 4 July 1988 to 17 July 1992 as leader of the Pangu Party. Biography An ethnic To ...

, former MP for Rabaul *Sir Joseph Nombri, politician, administrator and diploma * Iambakey Okuk, former deputy prime minister *

Peter O'Neill Peter Charles Paire O'Neill (born 13 February 1965) is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the seventh Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019. From 2002 until the present he served as Member of Parliament for Ialibu-Pan ...

, former Prime Minister (2012–2019) *

Francis Ona Francis Ona (c. 1953 – 24 July 2005) was a Bougainville secessionist leader who led an uprising against the Government of Papua New Guinea as part of the Bougainville Civil War. He and his followers were concerned about the environmental and ...

, rebel leader of Bougainville *

Don Polye Don Pomb Polye (born 1 February 1967) is a Papua New Guinean politician from Enga Province. He has been a Cabinet Minister under two Prime Ministers, and was briefly Deputy Prime Minister from July to December 2010. He has held Foreign Affairs, I ...

, MP for Kandep and Minister for Transport & Civil Aviation (2009–2011) Minister of Finance (2011–) *Sir William Skate, former Prime Minister (1995–1998) *Sir

Michael Somare Sir Michael Thomas Somare (9 April 1936 – 26 February 2021) was a Papua New Guinean politician. Widely called the "father of the nation" (), he was the first Prime Minister after independence. At the time of his death, Somare was also the lo ...

, "Father of the nation", three times Prime Minister (most recently 2002–2011) *

Luther Wenge Luther Akisawa Wenge (born 12 December 1959) is a Papua New Guinean politician. He is Governor of Morobe Province and a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea as a member of the Pipol First Party from 1997 to 2012. After 10 years, h ...

, MP and Governor of Morobe *

Paias Wingti Paias Wingti (born 2 February 1951) is a Papua New Guinean politician. He served as the third Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea between 1985 and 1988, and again from 1992 to 1994. Early life and education Wingti hails from the Jika Tribe of the ...

, former Prime Minister and Governor of Western Highlands * Theo Zurenuoc, MP for Finschhafen, current Speaker of Parliament (2012–)

Sports

Johnny Aba Johnny Aba (born 3 March 1956) is a Papua New Guinean professional feather/ super feather/lightweight boxer of the 1970s and 1980s who won the Papua New Guinea featherweight title, Papua New Guinea lightweight title, and Commonwealth super feat ...

, only Papua New Guinean to compete for a world boxing title * Makali Aizue, Rugby League *

Marcus Bai Marcus "George" Bai (born 11 October 1972) is a Papua New Guinean former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. An international representative er, he represented Papua New Guinea on numerous occasions including ...

, Rugby League, thee-time world club championship winner and NRL Premiership Winner * Willie Bera Football, PNG national football team *

Stanley Gene Stanley Gene (born 11 May 1974) is a Papua New Guinean former rugby league Kumul (#166) player and professional Assistant Coach (Defence) of the Hull Kingston Rovers. He previously coached Gateshead Thunder and the academy team at Hull Kings ...

, Rugby League, Captain of PNG Rugby League team in 2008 Rugby World Cup * Francis Kompaon, Paralympic sprinter, first and only PNG Paralympic or Olympic medal winner *

Adrian Lam Adrian Lam (born 25 August 1970) is a Papua New Guinean professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Super League Club Leigh Leopards (was Leigh Centurions), and a former rugby league footballer. He played for the Sydney Rooste ...

, Rugby League, Sydney Roosters and PNG Rugby League coach * Edward Laboran, Athletics *

Ryan Pini Ryan John Pini MBE (born 10 December 1981 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea) is a 4-time Olympic swimmer from Papua New Guinea. He swam for PNG at the 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics; also serving as the PNG flagbearer in 2008 and 2016. He ...

, Gold Medalist in swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games *

Archie Thompson Archie Gerald Thompson (born 23 October 1978) is an Australian former professional footballer. He also is serving as a club ambassador for Melbourne Victory FC. Born in New Zealand, Thompson played youth football at the New South Wales Institu ...

, Football, Melbourne Victory and PSV striker * Dika Loa Toua, Weightlifting * Justin Olam, Rugby League * Geraint Jones, Ashes winner 2005 and Kent legend and alright wicketkeeper

Others

Aro ARO (short for Auto Romania) was a Romanian off-road vehicle manufacturer located in Câmpulung. The first ARO vehicles were produced in 1957, and the last in 2003. For a short while, Daihatsu-powered AROs were sold in Spain and produced in Portu ...

, last person executed in PNG * Kevin Conrad, environmentalist *

Janetta Douglas Janetta Douglas, née Smith, MBE is a Papua New Guinean charity worker. In the late 1960s, she was "a young teacher in Madang", where she "encouraged the women to continue to make pots, assisted with marketing to surrounding villages and to Austr ...

, charity worker * Sir

Vincent Eri Sir Vincent Serei Eri (12 September 1936 – 25 May 1993) was a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the fifth governor-general of Papua New Guinea from February 1990 to October 1991. Life Eri attended the University of Papua New ...

, author and former Governor-General *

Florence Jaukae Kamel Florence Jaukae Kamel is a Papua New Guinea artist and designer, particularly known for her work in the traditional medium of bilum, plant fibres woven into yarn, and then looped or crocheted to make bags or dresses and other garments. Kamel is kno ...

, artist and women's rights activist * Joseph Kaven, physician * Dame Jean Kekedo, ombudsman and diplomat * Dame Mary Kekedo, educator * Dame Rose Kekedo, first woman to be chancellor at UPNG * Mary Kini, peace activist * Mazzella Maniwavie, mangrove scientist and climate activist * Pilipo Miriye, first Papua New Guinean evangelical missionary to West Africa * Noah Musingku, creator of purported ponzi scheme, 'Uvistract' *

Bernard Narokobi Bernard Mullu Narokobi OBE (1943 – March 2010) was a Papua New Guinean politician, jurist, and philosopher. He was serving as the Papua New Guinean High Commissioner to New Zealand prior to his death. Between 1987 and 1997 he represented hi ...

, philosopher and lawyer * Cecilia Nembou, educator, women's rights activist, and first female vice-chancellor for a university in Papua New Guinea *

O-shen Jason Hershey (born 1978 in Spokane, Washington), better known as O-Shen, is a reggae musician, raised in Papua New Guinea. O-Shen resides in Hawai'i but still visits Papua New Guinea. He raps and sings most of his songs in Tok Pisin. Biograph ...

, reggae musician * Sir

Anthony Siaguru Sir Anthony Siaguru (4 November 1946 – 16 April 2004) was a Papua New Guinean civil servant, lawyer, international diplomat, politician, sportsman and anti-corruption campaigner. Early life and education Anthony Siaguru was born on 4 Novemb ...

, public servant * Jerry Singirok, military officer * William Takaku, actor (theatre, television and film) * Dame

Meg Taylor Dame Meg Taylor is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as Secretary General to the Pacific Islands Forum from 2014 to 2021. She was previously an athlete, lawyer and diplomat. Life and career She received her LL.B degree from Melbourne Un ...

, lawyer and diplomat * Pamela Toliman, medical researcher *Sir

Alkan Tololo Sir Alkan Tololo (died 2003) was the director of Papua New Guinea's education department and the first Papua New Guinean to be chancellor of both the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitec ...

, educator and diplomat *

Megan Washington Megan Alexanda Washington (born 7 January 1986) is an Australian musician and songwriter who has worked mononymously as Washington. Originally performing jazz music, her style shifted to indie pop and alternative rock. She has released three ...

, jazz and alternative pop/rock singer * Justin Wellington, singer

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Papua New Guineans