The government has confirmed Mr. Lume Polume as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Information and Communications Technology Authority (NICTA) for the next four years.

Acting Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Peter Tsiamalili Jr., made the announcement, saying the appointment took effect on 28th January 2026.

Mr. Polume has more than 20 years of experience and has worked in senior roles with the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission (ICCC) and Telikom PNG. His work covers economics, telecom policy, and leadership.

At the same time, Mr. Charlie Gilichibi has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director on the NICTA Board for four years. He replaces Mr. John Cholai, who has completed his term.

NICTA Board Chairman Brian Riches welcomed both appointments and said the board is ready to work with them. He said their leadership will help guide NICTA through an important period of reform and improve its work in the country’s digital space.

Mr. Polume takes on the full CEO role after serving in an acting position for the past three months. During that time, he showed strong leadership and focused on reform. He replaces former CEO Kila Gulo Vui, who has completed his term.

Mr. Polume holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Queensland under the Australia Awards program. He also graduated with First Class Honours in Economics from the University of Papua New Guinea.

The government says these appointments show its commitment to strengthening leadership and improving services, as NICTA continues its role in delivering better and more reliable ICT services across Papua New Guinea.