Josephine Pitmur has been appointed Acting Secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General following the retirement of Dr Eric Kwa, who served in the position for eight years.

Justice Minister and Attorney-General Pila Niningi announced the appointment, acknowledging Kwa’s service to the department and his contribution to the country’s justice sector.Kwa took up the position in 2018 and served two terms before retiring from the public service this week. He was the longest-serving secretary of the department.Pitmur was previously the Deputy Secretary for Justice Administration.

She has more than 18 years of experience in the public service, having worked as a lawyer and in legal policy and senior administrative roles.Her work has also included efforts to address corruption and improve legal protection for people who report wrongdoing.In 2024, Pitmur was involved in consultations on the Whistleblower Act 2020, which examined ways to improve protection for people who report corruption and misconduct.

She also joined a Papua New Guinea delegation that met with the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria to discuss cooperation in anti-corruption training and education.As Acting Secretary, Pitmur will lead the department’s work in legal policy, government legal services and justice administration.

The Department of Justice and Attorney-General provides legal advice to the Government and supports the development and administration of laws in the country.Her appointment follows the departure of Kwa, who leaves the department after eight years as its head.