CHAIRMAN
Hon. Kevin Isifu is the Chairman of the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission. He was appointed the Chairman in 2020 because of his position as one of the members of the party in government. He is the Member for Wewak Open. He has been a Member since 2017. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and before becoming a Politician, he was the Managing Director to his own company and Business in Wewak, East Sepik Province.
COMMISSIONER
Dr Fiona Hukula is a Senior Research Fellow and Building Safer Communities Program Leader and co-program leader of the Gender in PNG program at the Papua New Guinea National Research Institute (PNGNRI). She received a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
Having started in 1998 at the NRI as a project research officer, Fiona is a career policy and social researcher with over twenty years’ experience. She has authored and co-authored various publications relating to crime, urban sociality and gender violence in PNG. Fiona is an advocate for prevention of violence, especially violence against women and girls and women’s leadership in all spheres of society.
COMMISSIONER
Dr Allan Marat D.O.B. 28/9/54. Schools: Tavui Primary T School 1960-1966; Keravat High School 1967-1970; Sogeri Senior High School 1971-1982; University of PNG Law School (LL.B.) 1973-1976; Teaching Fellow in Law 1977-1978; Legal Training Institute 1978; Public Solicitor's Office, Rabaul 1979; University of Auckland Law School, New Zealand (LL.M. with First Class Honours) 1980-1981; Lecturer of Law UPNG 1982-1983; Oxford University Law School, United Kingdom (D.PHIL [Doctor of Philosophy] in Law) 1984-1987; Lecturer of Law UPNG 1988; Private Legal Practice under "Marat Lawyers" 1989-2002; Member for Rabaul Open Electorate in the National Parliament of PNG 2002-Today (2021).
COMMISSIONER
Right Reverend Dr. Jack Urame is a Lutheran pastor and comes from the Simbu province. He studied theology and social sciences and holds a bachelor of Theology, a Master of Arts and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Social Sciences. He also has a teaching qualification.
Currently he serves as the Head Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of PNG. Formerly he served as a missionary at the center for global mission in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria in Germany. After returning to PNG he joined the faculty of the Melanesian Institute and served as a social researcher for over ten years. He became Director of the same Institute for four years. He also taught at the University of Goroka for two years.
He has researched and published within the country and abroad on various social issues including sorcery and witchcraft, elections in PNG, Church and HIV Aids, inclusive education, marriage and family life and religious movements in PNG. His PhD research was on money and society, examining the social impact of the influence of money and cash economy on traditional structures and values in Papua New Guinea.
He was appointed commissioner to the Constitutional and Law Reform Commission of PNG in 2020. He represents the Churches on the commission.
COMMISSIONER
Ms Martha Kokiva is a Sole Private Legal Practitioner in her 30th year as a lawyer since admitted to the Bar in 1991; of which 7 years were in public service and 23 in private law practice. She graduated with Bachelor of Laws from the University of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Certificate of Training from the Legal Training Institute, and Master of Business Administration from the University of New England, New South Wales, Australia. Martha has significant experience as a Civil Litigation Lawyer in the National and Supreme Courts as well as Provincial Land Courts, District Court, Family Court, and Mediation and Arbitration Hearings. Her areas of law practice include Constitutional Law, Contract, Property, Customary Land Laws, Employment, Probate and Family. Apart from litigation, Martha provides Legal Advice/Opinions and other legal services as required from time to time.
In 2000, she was the Housing Advisor in two AusAID projects. The second project required a Debrief at AusAID Headquarters in Canberra, Australia. Martha also served hundreds of clients pro bono. Martha has been an advocate, inter alia, of the principles of natural justice which are deeply enshrined in the Constitution of PNG, with the fundamental classic “Justice must not only be done but be seen to be done.” Her drive for justice is informed by her Christian belief that God is the God of justice, hence, she believes that the founding Forefathers of Papua New Guinea, led by late Grand Chief, Sir Michael Thomas Somare were wise to pledge for ourselves and to take ownership of Christian principles along with our noble traditions. On 7th October 2020, Martha was sworn in as a Commissioner to the Constitutional & Law Reform Commission, ushering in a new era.