Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu is the World Health Organisation’s new Chief Nursing Officer. In 2019, Dr Tuipulotu became Tonga’s first female Minister for Health, and has been a member of the WHO Executive Board since May 2020. She replaces another Pacific Islander, Cook Islands’ Elizabeth Iro.
Massey University (NZ) Professor Dr. Apisalome Movono is the new Lead Expert on the Pacific Tourism Organisation’s Panel for Climate Change.
Former DFAT official Rod Hilton has taken office as Australia’s High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands.
Justice Patrick Keane has been appointed by the Cook Islands’ Ministry of Justice as its new head of judiciary, replacing retired Chief Justice Sir Hugh Williams.
The Council of the University of the South Pacific has selected two new senior staff. They are Walter Fraser as Chief Operating Officer and Professor Janusz Jankowski as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President.
The Trust Board for Oxfam in the Pacific has appointed Eunice Wotene as its new Executive Director. Wotene first joined Oxfam’s PNG-based office in 2014.
In American Samoa, Afamasaga Dr. Talifa Talifa is the newest member of the LBJ Medical Center Board of Directors. Afamasaga has decades of experience in dental medicine and administration.
Pacific Resort Hotel Group has employed Nikola Brent as its new Sales and Marketing Coordinator. Brent formerly worked at Cook Islands Tourism.
PIANGO has announced new Board members. They are Marstella Jack as Chair, succeeding Inia Barry for the next three years; Drew Havea as Deputy Chair, Tereeao Teingiia Ratite as Board Secretary; Sepesa Rasili as Treasurer. Others include Alson Kelen of the Marshall Islands Association of NGOs, Shirley Abraham from Vanuatu Association of NGOs, and Sioneheke Leolahi of Niue Association of Non-Governmental Organisations.
13 Permanent Secretaries have taken office in various Fiji government ministries for the next three years. They are Ashwin Raj for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation; Salaseini Daunabuna for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management; Mere Siqila-Lakeba for Waterways and Environment; Atish Kumar for Employment Productivity and Industrial Relations; Seema Sharma for Local Government; Yogesh Karan for the Office of the Prime Minister, Sugar Industry, Immigration and Foreign Affairs; Susan Kiran for Civil Service; Shaheen Ali for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport; Sanjeeva Perera for Housing and Community Development; Taitusi Vakadravuyaca for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services; Raijeli Taga for Lands and Mineral Resources; Manasa Lesuma for Defence, National Security and Policing, and Garisau Penesio Nonu Baleinabuli for Forestry and Fisheries.
The Vanuatu government has hired for the first time, two Country Liaison Officers to oversee all ni-Vanuatu workers engaged in the Labour Mobility Program. They are Patrice Kuautonga for Australia and Olivia Fleur Johnson for New Zealand.
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa has hired Australian-born Mary-Lou Corcoran as its new Resort Manager. She brings over 30 years of hotel experience to the new role.
Ambassador Junior Aini has begun his duties as Ambassador of the Marshall Islands to Fiji with cross accreditation to 13 Pacific nations and territories including Australia, New Zealand, FSM, Kiribati, PNG, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
New Zealand-born Darryl Williamson joins Pacific MMI Insurance Ltd as its new Chief Executive Officer with more than 30 years of insurance industry experience in New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific.
Desmond Wildin is the new director of the Cook Islands Audit Office after more than a decade in public service in the country.
American Samoa’s Aeau Christopher Hazelman has been elected to lead the territory’s Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture as its CEO for the next three years.
Ronesh Dayal has been appointed BSP Financial Group Ltd acting group chief executive effective January 1, 2023. BSP group chairman Sir Kostas Constatinou said: “Further to the announcement on November 3 regarding the appointment of Mark Robinson as the new group CEO, Robinson is expected to take up his position on March 1, 2023.”
Kumul Minerals Holdings Limited has hired its new managing director, Sarimu Kanu who has 29 years’ experience in the mining industry.
Solomon Islands’ Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Colin Beck has been re-appointed to lead the Ministry for a second term.
Two Niuean women have been awarded for their outstanding leadership and excellence at the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards 2022. Eunique Ikiua won the Language, Culture and Identity Award, and Annafinau Tukuitoga won the Arts, Culture and Creativity Award.
PNG’s Department of International Trade and Investment has announced two new appointees. They are Jacinta Warakai-Manua as acting secretary for the department and James Joshua as acting chairman for the country’s Securities Commission. Both will serve in their roles for three months.
StarKist Samoa’s new President and CEO is Chae-Ung Um, taking over from Andrew Choe, who served in the post for eight years.
The United States has selected Marie C. Damour to be the nation’s Ambassador to Fiji, and Ambassador-designee to Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga, and Tuvalu.
Georgian Ambassador Teimuraz Lezhava and Japan’s Ambassador Hiroyuki Orikasa have presented their credentials to Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr.
Four members have been elected into the National University of Samoa Alumni Association. They are Chief Executive Officer Samoa Port Authority, Sooalo Kuresa Sooalo as NUSAA President; Pastor Eric Poe as Vice President, Savea Fiti Tausisi as Secretary and Victory Utumapu-Milford as Treasurer.
Drug Free Sport Fiji’s Chairman Nicholas Barnes and Nick Paterson, Chairman of Drug Free Sport New Zealand have been elected to represent the Oceania region on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2023 National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) Expert Advisory Group. They will officially take office on January 1, 2023.
World Archery Fiji Vice President Ajay Ballu has been chosen to lead Team Fiji as Chef de Mission to the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, the Solomon Islands.
Long-distance runner Tau John Tokwepota, footballer Joseph Turia, and netball icon Veitu Diro have been inducted into the PNG Sports Hall of Fame.
Samoa’s Leader of the Opposition Human Rights Protection Party Tuiilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has been re-elected as Chair of the Samoa Rugby Union for a further four years. Two Members of Parliament, Faleomavaega Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua (Apia Union) and Leaana Ronnie Posini (Safata Union) were also elected as Board Directors to represent Upolu Sub-Unions.
In Memory
Palau’s former Chief Justice Arthur Ngirakelsong passed away on November 16. He is believed to be one of the nation’s longest serving Chief Justices in the Palau Supreme Court for nearly 30 years (1992 to 2020).
Samoan Member of Parliament for Vaimauga 3, Tapunuu Papalii Niko Lee Hang, 68, has been laid to rest. He first joined parliament in 2001 and served as Minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure since 2021.
Niue’s former cabinet minister Joan Tahafa Viliamu, 56, has died. She passed away at the Niue Foou hospital on November 25 surrounded by her family. Viliamu served as Minister for Health, Community Affairs and Broadcasting from 2011 to 2020.
Taraeka George Paniani, remembered as “Captain Gee” on Radio Cook Islands, died aged 65. Paniani was the chairman of Cook Islands Language Commission from 2016 to 2022 and was the longest serving executive board member with the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee as vice president.
