THE HON RICK HOUENIPWELA

PRIME MINISTER

SOLOMON ISLANDS

Rick Houenipwela was elected as the 12th Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands on the 15 th of September 2017. Mr Houenipwela was elected to the National Parliament of Solomon Islands for Small Malaita Constituency on 4 th of August 2010 and re-elected for a second term on the 19th November 2014. Mr Houenipwela was Minister of Public Service between 18 th April 2011 and 10 th November 2011, and later Minister of Finance and Treasury between 21 st November 2011 and 8 th September 2014.

Mr Houenipwela served as Chairman of Public Accounts Committee between December 2014 and 15 November 2017. He was also a Member of the Bills and Legislation Committee between December 2014 and 15 November 2017, a Member of the Public Accounts Committee between September 2010 and April 2011, and a Member of the Bills and Legislation Committee between September 2010 and April 2011.

Before entering Parliament Mr Houenipwela was Senior Adviser, Executive Director, World Bank (2008 – 2010) and Governor of the Central Bank of Solomon Islands (1993 – 2008). He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of Technology, PNG (1979), A Diploma of Commerce from the University of Technology, PNG (1976), and a Diploma in Development Administration from the Australian National University (1991). Mr Houenipwela was born on the 8 th of August 1958 and is married with four children.