Paul Barker, from the UK, came to Papua New Guinea in January 1978 and was based in the Highlands for five years with the Primary Industry Department. He headed the economics, marketing, and statistics Branch of the Primary Industry Dept until 1988, when appointed special economic sector adviser in the Prime Minister’s Dept., a post he held until mid-2004. He was a technical adviser with the European Delegation in the Solomon Islands until January 2006, and later appointed Executive Director of the Institute of National Affairs, an independent policy think tank based in Port Moresby, that addresses a wide range of economic and social issues affecting the country. With his experience as a director, Paul has chaired in various State and Civil society organizations, including the National Cultural Commission, the Higher Education Board, the Research and Conservation Foundation and Business Council of PNG, Transparency International PNG, and a member of the EITI Multi-Stakeholder Group.
