Projects / Initiatives

Overview

Application

Publications

Videos

Contacts

Overview

The project is about documenting and celebrating the lives of Papua New Guinea’s nation makers and we are looking to identify a group of writers to collaborate and conduct historical research about significant and representative Papua New Guineans.

Participants are invited to research and write a short biographical entry of 500–2,000 words for peer review and publication in Volume Two of the revitalised PNG Dictionary of Biography.

In collaboration with scholars at the University of Papua New Guinea and the Australian National University (including the Oceania Working Party of the Australian Dictionary of Biography), the project will support writers through this process by sponsoring attendance at a biography workshop in Port Moresby and provide mentorship and editorial support.

This project is funded in part by the Australian Government through Australia Awards PNG and led by Theresa Meki (ANU), Keimelo Gima (UPNG), and Nicholas Hoare (ANU). The ethical aspects of this research have been approved by the ANU Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol 2023/1426).

Application

Who can apply

We are inviting applications from Papua New Guineans living in PNG and the diaspora (though those living overseas will not be supported to attend the workshops in person), undergraduate and postgraduate students, published and aspiring writers, researchers, and history enthusiasts. Ideally, applicants should be either:

  • Enrolled in or recently completed a relevant undergraduate degree;
  • Enrolled in or recently completed relevant postgraduate education;
  • Working in or for a university or research/cultural institution in any capacity;
  • Published authors or aspiring writers looking for training and publishing opportunities.

How to apply

Following the launch of Volume One (Fifty Years of Nation-Making) in September 2025, the Papua New Guinea Dictionary of Biography editorial team are pleased to announce a new call for entries or expressions of interest for Volume Two.

Interested writers are encouraged to get in touch with lead editor, Theresa Meki (Theresa.meki@anu.edu.au).

The application deadline is Friday, 17 April 2026, by 11:59 (PNG Standard Time).

What to provide:

  1. The name(s) of your proposed biographical subject(s) (i.e., a significant or representative Papua New Guinean who has either passed away or has reached/is nearing retirement).  
  2. A short 50–100-word statement about the person’s significance.   
  3. A short 2-page CV or Resumé outlining your education and any other relevant experience.  

While this is a voluntary opportunity, financial support is available for PNG-based contributors to attend and participate in a biography workshop held in Port Moresby later in the year.

Women, people with disabilities, and students from remote and rural PNG are particularly encouraged to apply.  

 

Publications

Videos

Revisiting the Papua New Guinea Dictionary of Contemporary Biography

Our Stories Matter - Lessons from the PNG Biography Dictionary Project

Julie Kondi doing “kastom wok” at the launching of the PNG dictionary of biographies

Contacts

Dr Theresa Meki

Dr Nicholas Hoare