Mike Qaqara appointed Acting MID Permanent Secretary, bringing 25 years of infrastructure leadership experience
21st July 2026
The minister, Hon. Ricky Fuo’o, along with the executive team, staff, and project partner organizations of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development (MID), in a statement today, wishes to congratulate Mr. Mike Qaqara on his appointment as acting permanent secretary last Friday at the Government House.
Mr. Qaqara assumes the role with over 25 years of professional experience in engineering, project management, transport planning, policy development, and public sector administration within the Solomon Islands government.
“Mr. Qaqara’s appointment marks a seamless transition for our ministry. Having dedicated more than two decades to building and planning the nation’s infrastructure from the ground up, he brings an unparalleled depth of technical expertise, proven leadership, and trusted stakeholder relationships to this office.
“The Ministry stands fully united behind him, and we are confident that under his guidance, we will continue to deliver sustainable transport and infrastructure outcomes essential for driving national development and connecting communities across our islands,” the statement said.
Mr. Qaqara, 49, from Choiseul Province, most recently served as the Deputy Secretary Technical (DST), providing strategic leadership and oversight for national transport infrastructure programs, quality assurance, operations, and donor-funded development initiatives.
A civil engineer by profession, Mr. Qaqara holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. He has furthered his leadership credentials with a mini-MBA from the Australian Institute of Management in 2026 and a Certificate IV in Project Management under the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) program of the University of South Pacific (USP) in 2017.
Throughout his pathway at the ministry, he has successfully managed large-scale infrastructure investments funded by the Solomon Islands government and key international partners, including the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Australia, the People’s Republic of China, and New Zealand.
His project portfolio includes the Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Investment Program (STIIP), the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project, the Greater Honiara Transport Master Plan, the Land and Maritime Connectivity Project, and the Kukum Highway Upgrading Project.
Furthermore, Mr. Qaqara has contributed significantly to institutional strengthening by developing the Solomon Islands Transport Network Information System (SITNIS) and mentoring local contractors and technical staff on ministry procedures.
The statement said, “With institutional knowledge, strong stakeholder relationships, ability to navigate complex multi-agency frameworks, this experienced civil engineer is well-positioned to lead the ministry in delivering sustainable transport and community connectivity across the Solomon Islands.
It further adds, “We also extend our sheer appreciation to the outgoing Permanent Secretary, Mr. Allan Lilia, for his leadership and the valuable contributions he has made toward advancing infrastructure programs for the past two years.”
PRESS RELEASE
