Dame Carol Kidu is a former PNG Member of Parliament and Minister for Community Development, has three honorary doctorates from the University of Queensland, University of PNG and University of Natural Resources and Environment, Rabaul, PNG. Carol originally trained as a teacher at the Kelvin Grove Teachers College and University of Queensland in her birth city, Brisbane.

As a member of PNG’s parliament for three terms, Carol was a driving force behind a number of important legislative reforms including the repeal of the colonial Child Welfare Act, changes to the Criminal Code on rape and sexual assault, and new legislation on child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children. Policy reforms initiated by Carol include the community-based policy for people with disability, revised National Youth policy, sports for development policy, informal economy policy and a revised policy on gender.

She also established the Parliamentary Committee on HIV and AIDS in 2003 and the PNG Parliamentarians on Population and Development in 2008.

Carol’s international appointments have included membership of the James Cook University’s international advisory board of the Cairns Institute and the independent Global Commission on HIV and the Law.

In addition to her honorary doctorates, Carol’s achievements have also been recognised by her adopted country, Papua New Guinea, where she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire. She was also Pacific Person of the Year in 2007, the same year she received the International Woman of Courage Award from the US Secretary of State. She is also a knight in the French National Order of the Legion of Honour.