Six UPNG academics recognised internationally

SIX academics from the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Business and Public Policy have scored a first for Papua New Guinea by being internationally recognised for their achievements in public finance and accountancy.
The staff from the school’s accounting division were awarded professional profession associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in the United Kingdom.
The awardees are Prof Lekshmi Pillai, executive dean of the school, Ponnusamy Manohar, deputy dean and senior lecturer,  Pandita Bandara, head of division and senior lecturer,  Silas Umaropi, lecturer, Suresh Babu Nagarajan, lecturer and Robert Kutapai, lecturer.
They have become pioneers as no one in Papua New Guinea has ever been awarded this prestigious Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy award before.
CIPFA is the only professional body in the world that specialises in public finance and accounting.
The award of this professional membership has resulted from the university’s ongoing affiliation with Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
CIPFA is a professional institute for accountants working in the public services.
It has 14,000 members who work throughout the public services, in national audit agencies, in major accountancy firms, and in other bodies where public money needs to be managed.
The qualifications include the benchmark professional qualification for public sector accountants as well as a postgraduate diploma for people already working in leadership positions.
CIPFA works with governments, accounting bodies and the public sector around the world to advance public finance and support its professionals.