The Right Honourable Grand Chief Sir Peter Ipatas, KBE, GCL, MP (born 31 July 1958) is a Papua New Guinean politician and businessman, and is the current governor of Enga province. Ipatas has been re-elected to the parliament for four consecutive terms since 1997. He is commonly known throughout the country as the "Action Governor". Chief Ipatas is also known as the Father of Free Education Policy in the country. He first assumed office in 1997. Ipatas was the Parliamentary leader of the People's Party which was founded by himself in 2006 after he left the Papua New Guinea Party. Early life Ipatas was born July 21, 1958, and raised in Irelya village in Wabag District, Enga Province. Education He was educated at Ireyla Community School close to local residence. Ipatas then moved to further his Secondary Education at Pausa Lutheran High School in Wapenamanda District in the same province. After completing his secondary education in his home province, he was selected to do Science Foundation Year at the University of Papua New Guinea. Political life and Parliamentary Services Current Currently, Chief Ipatas is the Governor of Enga Province. He is a senior member in the O'Neill-Abel Government. He is also a Member of Parliamentary Referral Foreign Affairs and Trade Committee and a Member of Parliamentary Referral Transport & Civil Aviation Committee. Previously Ipatas was first elected to the 6th National Parliament in the 1997 General Elections for the Enga Provincial seat. He was a member of Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings Committee from July 1997 to March 1998. He was also member of Finance Referral Committee from July 1997-July 1998. Chief Ipatas was Governor for Enga Province from July 1997 until the withdrawal of Enga Provincial Government powers in February 2001. At that time, he also served in the Public Works Committee from November 1999 to May 2001, and in the Select Committee on Independent Commission Against Corruption in April 1998. Ipatas was appointed Minister for Mining by then Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Mekere Morauta government on the 17/5/2001 till 19/10/2001 when relinquished ministerial duties to resume as Governor for Enga Province when the suspension of the Enga Provincial government was lifted. During the suspension. Ipatas fought vigorously and had his government reinstated, serving a full term until the 2002 national elections which he won easily. The people hailed him as a hero and gave him the