The Tui Macuata, Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere has been sworn in as the new President of Fiji. He becomes the sixth President since Fiji gained independence. Ratu Wiliame, 57 was installed as the Tui Macuata and Taukei Bolatagane in 2013. He has served on the Board of Fiji Pine Group of Companies, Tropik Wood Industries Limited, Copra Millers of Fiji, Fiji Sugar Corporation and Rewa Rice Limited. He is also the former President of FijiFirst and has served two tours to the Middle East under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
Auckland University of Technology’s new Vice Chancellor is Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa. When Toeolesulusulu takes up the role next March he will be the first person of Pacific descent to head a university in New Zealand. He is currently a Pro-Chancellor at the University of Auckland.
French Polynesia’s new vice-president is the transport minister Jean-Christophe Bouissou, replacing Tearii Alpha, who was dismissed after refusing to be vaccinated. Alpha remains in government.
Fiji’s Unaisi Lutu Vuniwaqa has been appointed as United Nations Assistant Secretary‑General for Safety and Security. Vuniwaqa has over 35 years of experience in law enforcement at the national and international level, and most recently held the position of Police Commissioner and Head of the United Nations Police component with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan.
Cook Islands has been elected to UNESCO’s Executive Board, and will be represented by its Permanent Delegate and Ambassador, H.E. Dr Nathalie Rossette-Cazel. “This is a landmark result, not just for the Cook Islands but for our Pacific region and small island developing states (SIDS) more broadly,” said the head of the Cook Islands foreign affairs ministry, Tepaeru Herrmann.
Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum is the next president of the East West Center’s Board of Governors. A former Major General in the US Army, Vares-Lum is the first woman and first Native Hawaiian to lead the Center since it was founded in 1960. Since retiring from the military in April after 34 years of service, she formed a consultancy on Indo-Pacific issues.
Fiji’s former Minister for Women, Mereseini Vuniwaqa has been appointed as the first Chair of Family Planning 2030’s new Governing Board. The global partnership is dedicated to improving access to family planning for people everywhere. She will be overseeing the Governing Board, a diverse group of experts comprised of members from various FP2030 stakeholder groups from across the globe.
Professor Derrick Armstrong is the new Vice Principal of the Pacific Theological College in Fiji. Professor Armstrong was most recently Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of the South Pacific.
After 12 years leading Cook Islands Tourism, Halatoa Fua has resigned to become Director of the National Environment Service. Fua will also resign as chair of the Pacific Tourism Organisation. Announcing the change, Prime Minister Mark Brown said Fua had proven himself a competent and effective senior government executive. “Environmental and cultural sustainability are emerging as cornerstones of the global post-Covid-19 travel industry and Halatoa’s skills as a consensus builder will see a constructive relationship between the industry and environment, with the potential to add tremendous value to the Cook Islands as a sustainable tourism destination.”
Papua New Guinea’s golfing fraternity is mourning the loss of the country’s first professional golfer, August Peni. The amateur and PNG champion represented PNG at the Putra Cup, Ratu Mara Cup, South Pacific and Mini Pacific Games.
Former Marshall Islands President, Hilda Heine has been appointed as USP Pro-Chancellor. “This is a huge accolade for Micronesia and extremely fitting that a great educationalist takes on this role at the region’s premier university,” Nauru President Lionel Aingimea said in response to the appointment. Heine has previously served on the USP council while Marshall Islands education minister. She replaces Winston Thompson, whose second term ends on 31 December.
Meanwhile Niue Premier, Dalton Emani Makamau Tagelagi has been installed as the 28th Chancellor of USP. His one-year term will run until 30 June 2022. The USP Chancellorship is rotated amongst USP’s 12-member countries’ Heads of State or Government. The Chancellor confers Degrees and awards Diplomas and Certificates of the University.
The new chairman of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce is Phillip Henderson. Taking up the role, the chief executive of Vodafone Cook Islands said, “The country is still in survival mode – once we get the borders reopened and tourism back on its feet, we need to look at diversification options.” The chamber has also added new directors Addrienne Hosking-Tinirau and Lavinia Tama.
Niuean civil servant Coleen Figo Misa Kulatea Ioane has been posthumously awarded the Niue Public Service Medal, for her dedication to the Niue civil service. She spent 28 years working for government, holding senior positions at Niue Bulk Fuel and with the health department.
Samoa’s Anne Rasmusseun has been re-nominated to represent the Alliance of Small Islands States on the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change through to 2022. The Bureau’ work includes examining the credentials of Parties, reviewing the list of Intergovernmental Organisations and Non-Governmental Organisations seeking accreditation as well as providing advice on the ongoing work under the Convention, Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
Solomon Islands post graduate student, Morris Kiukakea Polyn has been elected President of the University of the South Pacific Student Association (USPSA) in Laucala, Fiji. Polyn is currently pursuing a master’s degree (MA) in Pacific Epistemology.
Fiji Airways has announced the promotion of its first ever female to command a widebody aircraft. Captain Seini Koroitamana Cornish will now captain Fiji Airways A330 aircraft. Captain Koroitamana Cornish has been with Fiji Airways for 16 years, starting in 2005 as a Second Officer on the Boeing 747-400 aircraft.
Rugby League club, the PNG Hunters have re-appointed Scott Barker as CEO for the 2022 season. Barker has completed his first Intrust Super Cup season as General Manager, guiding the Hunters through a challenging year which saw them move operations to Queensland because of COVID restrictions.
Changes in the Vanuatu public service, with provincial secretary general Morris Kaloran being moved from Shefa to Malampa, and Kalwajin Skepha replacing Kaloran in Shefa. Meanwhile the Secretary General for Tafea, Joe Iautim, will switch with his counterpart at Torba, Raymond Surmat.
Fiji rugby Olympic gold medallist Osea Kolinisau has been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Kolinisau led Fiji’s gold medal-winning 7s team at the Rio Olympic Games and two consecutive first place finishes in the World Rugby Sevens Series between 2014 and 2016. He is currently playing rugby for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby in the United States.
Acting Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) President Dr Robin Mitchell plans to stand for the role on a permanent basis when the organisation holds elections next year. Dr Mitchell has led the umbrella organisation in an acting capacity since 2018 after Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah was charged in Switzerland with forgery. Dr Mitchell was first elected to the organisation in 1994.
Fiji’s Housing Authority and Public Rental Board have a new Chairperson and five Directors. Viliame Vodonaivalu, the current CEO of the Fiji National Provident Fund, has been appointed as the Board Chairperson. The other directors are: CEO of the Fiji Development Bank Saud Minam, civil engineer Renee Duguivalu, General Manager Strategic and Community Development at Koroipita Model Towns Susan Naidu, Senior Legal Officer at the Office of the Solicitor-General, Florence Takinana, and Principal-Agent with Propmate Realty, Anil Prasad.
PNG Olympic Committee general secretary Auvita Rapilla has been named as the first Papua New Guinean to be part of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics coordination commission. She and 11 other representatives from around the world were selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for the coordination commission to host the 35th edition of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Communications Fiji long-time director, Pramesh Sharma has resigned from the broadcasting organisation’s board, due to his inability to meet the residency requirements specified in the Media Industry Development Act 2010. However he will continue to serve on the board of the group’s subsidiary, PNGFM LTD. His place on the Fiji board will be taken up by Emily King who currently holds the position of Group Company Secretary and General Manager Legal & Compliance for BSP Life.
POETCom, the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community has named its new Chairs, Sashi Kiran, Franck Soury-Lavergne and Litia Taukave. Kiran is the Founder and CEO of Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development (FRIEND), Soury-Lavergne is the President of Bio Caledonia, and Taukave is a founding member of Loving Islands.
The Pacific Games Council has elected its executive board for the term through until 2024. They are Vidhya Lakhan (Fiji, President), Marcus Stephen (Nauru, Vice President, Sport), Diane Bui-Duyet (New Caldonia, Vice President, Marketing), Tamzin Wardley (Papua New Guinea, Vice President, Finance), and Ryan Pini (Papua New Guinea, Athletes’ Representative).
