Sen. Aren B. Palik has been sworn in as the Federated States of Micronesia’s vice president, succeeding Yosiwo George who passed away last month. Palik was the president of the Pacific Islands Development Bank, a position that he held until his election into the FSM Congress in 2019.
Vanuatu’s Stephanie Tarileo is the first female captain for Air Vanuatu. “It’s a big burden, but I will do my best to carry this [achievement] with pride. I leave it all to the Almighty’s hands,” said Tarileo, who was also the second ni-Vanuatu woman to gain a commercial pilot’s licence.
The newly appointed New Zealand High Commissioner to Kiribati, Andre van der Walt has presented his credentials to Kiribati’s Head of State, His President Taneti Maamau.
Ivan Fong is Kacific Broadband Satellites Group’s new Managing Director of the Pacific. Fong has over 28 years’ experience in telecommunications and over 18 years in leadership roles at Amalgamated Telecom Holdings Ltd, Vodafone and the Pacific Islands Telecommunications Association.
Tourism Fiji has appointed Srishti Narayan to head its Global Marketing department. The Fijian-born professional has worked in senior marketing roles at organisations like the Bank of New Zealand, Goodfolk and ANZ Bank in Auckland.
Papua New Guinea newly re-elected prime minister James Marape has sworn in the country’s new Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Mannaseh Makiba and 12 vice-ministers, including Rai Coast MP Kessy Sawang, one of only two women in the 118-seat Parliament.
In Palau, Carmen G. Cantor has been sworn in as the territory’s Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs. The position oversees federal assistance under the Compacts of Free Association to Palau, FSM and the Marshall Islands.
Akshay Singh is the new Area Director of Sales, Marketing & Revenue at the InterContinental Hotels Group for the South Pacific.
Afioga Lagaaia Lealiifano Easter Manila-Silipa joins the Australia Pacific Training Coalition as its new Country Director for Samoa and Tonga. Manila-Silipa had previously worked as Chief Executive Officer for the Samoa Qualifications Authority.
American Samoan Rodney Te’o has been selected for a position with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the Information Technology Branch. Te’o was the former director of Information Technology for Fort Hall — a replica of a fort that was built in 1834 as a fur trading post and is now an historical site in southeastern Idaho.
The Rotaract Club of Saipan has installed its 2022-2023 leaders and officers with club president Richard Enrico Baleares resuming his role. The other club officers include: Genelin Anne Camacho as vice president, Jefferson Roe Cunanan as secretary, Hillary Denise Agulto as treasurer, Rayna Marayah Sablan as director of Community Service, Melissa Maeteny Borja as the director of International Service, Arriane Maricar Antonio as director of Club Service, Simon Jed Necesito as director of Professional Development, and Lynnaray Bernie Ann Sablan as director of Finance.
Free Bird Institute Limited Non-Executive Director, Waisale Iowane has tendered his resignation. Iowane contributed to some of the company’s greatest achievements, including the publicly listing of FBL on the South Pacific Stock Exchange. The company has also hired Shaniza Bibi as its new Chief Operations Officer.
Anurag Tandon is the new Chief Executive Officer for Telecom Niue Limited. Hailing from India and with twenty-years of experience in the telecommunications industry, Tandon replaces previous CEO, Brett Collier.
Dr Jaye Moors is the first Pasifika student to complete a PhD at Otago University. The New Zealand-born Samoan had been studying the genetics of cardiometabolic disease in Māori and Pasifika communities in New Zealand. Moors hopes to hold a position at a Seattle-based genomics company that aims to improve global health by studying the genetics of underrepresented populations with medically relevant traits.
Taeia Penitusi joined Tuvalu’s Climate Change Department as Assistant Officer. Penitusi recently graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science and Information Engineering from Dong Hwa University in Taiwan.
Private attorney David Vargas is American Samoa’s new Acting Public Defender. His appointment is temporary until the territory’s government finds a replacement before the end of the year.
EU-funded Strengthening Pacific Intra-Regional and International Trade (SPIRIT) project has recruited three new members: Joeli Bili as SPIRIT Communications and M&E Officer; Anuragh Narayan as SPIRIT Database Associate; and Julie Tuikubulau as SPIRIT Finance and Administration Officer.
Australian national, John Williams has taken on his new role as Interim Chargé D’Affaires to the Australian High Commission in Suva. Williams has over 25 years of experience in developing and implementing Australian foreign, trade and development policy in the Indo-Pacific.
Jane Chigiyal has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff for Federated States of Micronesia President, David W. Panuelo. Chigiyal was FSM’s former permanent representative to the United Nations from late 2011 to late 2021.
In Northern Marianas, Warren F. Villagomez of Tinan has been re-appointed to the Marianas Visitors Authority board of directors for another four-year term. Villagomez also chairs the CNMI’s COVID-19 Task Force.
Cook Islands’ senior macroeconomist, Tristan Metcalfe is the new director for economic planning at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management. The role had been vacant since January 28 following the resignation of former director, Dr Willem Ysbrand Borren.
Fiji National University has a new Vice-Chancellor — Professor Lyn Karstadt. Karstadt has held executive and leadership roles in higher education in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Palau attorney Midth Bells is the new Senior Judge of the country’s Common Pleas Court. Bells had served as Assistant Special Prosecutor in the Palau Supreme Court.
Four new members have been appointed into the board of the Soil and Water Conservation District for Saipan and the Northern Islands. They are: Liana S. Hofschneider; Ryan C. Reyes; Victor D. Cabrera; and Edward C. Deleon Guerrero.
Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (PNG) has employed Craig Shulz as its new chief operating officer. Schulz has more than 25 years of leading major projects in the energy and resources industries in Australia and other countries.
Bank South Pacific Limited has made two new appointments. They are: Jennifer Ula-Fruean as Country Head for Samoa; and Taituuga Maryann Lameko-Vaai as General Manager Offshore Branches at the bank’s headquarters in Port Moresby.
Vanuatu’s Public Commission has re-appointed three new government directors. They are: Henry Worek as Director of Ports and Harbour Department; Antoine Ravo as Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development; Johnny Marango as Director of Correctional Services. Also, the new Director for the Department of Women’s Department is Rothina Nako Ilo, and Stewart Garae is the new Director for the Language Department.
New Caledonia’s Customary Senate has elected Hugues Vhemavhe as president for a one-year term, replacing Yvon Kona. The Senate brings together traditional representatives of Kanak councils from 16 areas.
Northern Marianas College announced Nadine Deleon Guerrero as its new network director of the CNMI Small Business Development Centre. Guerrero joins the NMC family with more than 22 years of experience in the public and private sectors.
Eric Spitz is the new High Commissioner for French Polynesia, succeeding Dominique Sorain. Spitz previously served as Secretary-General of the High Commission between 2008 and 2010.
Solomon Islands’ new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is Bunyan Sivoro. Sivoro has served the MCT for the last 21 years, 8 of which as Deputy Director of Tourism and 13 as Director for Tourism.
Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority has recruited Elizabeth Napoli as executive director, replacing the late Ray S. Topasna; and Fernando Esteves as GHURA’s deputy director.
Fijian 7s player, Filipe Sauturaga was awarded the Greatest Player of the Rugby World Cup Sevens Final 2022. He helped Fiji win the final against New Zealand 29-12.
Super Rugby Pacific franchise, Fijian Drua has hired Mark Evans as its new Chief Executive. He replaces former CEO, Brian Thorburn who has led the franchise since its inception.
In Memory
Vanuatu’s Sela Molisa has passed away. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1982-2012, including four terms as minister for finance before taking up the post of Vanuatu’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China.
Tongan rugby commentator Willie Los’e was laid to rest at the age of 55. Los’e died in Cape Town, South Africa where he was scheduled to commentate the Rugby World Cup 7s. He captained Tonga at the 1995 Rugby World Cup, playing all three pool games.
