He was educated in a Lutheran missionary primary school in Lae. After a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Papua New Guinea, he worked in the aviation industry, holding the position of assistant general manager of Air Niugini (the country's national airline) from 1973 to 1980. From 1982 to 1986, he served as chairman of the National Airlines Commission. He also worked as "a businessman in the poultry and fruit industries". He chaired the South Pacific Festival of Arts in 1980, and the South Pacific Games Foundation for the 1991 South Pacific Games, held in Port Moresby.