Si’alei Van Toor is New Zealand’s new High Commissioner to Samoa. She is the first person of Samoan heritage to take up the role and is accredited as New Zealand’s Consul-General to American Samoa.
Elizabeth Genia has been appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Papua New Guinea, the first female to take up the position.
The World Health Organization Executive Board has confirmed the appointment of former Tongan Minister for Health, Dr Saia Piukala, as the WHO’s Regional Director for the Western Pacific.
Dr Yuming Wen has been appointed Director of the Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific.
Australian Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, has appointed Will Robinson as Australia’s new High Commissioner to Samoa.
American Samoa’s Governor, Lemanu Palepoi Sialegā Mauga, has appointed Jon AG Clemens as the new judge of the District Court, and reappointed Marie Alailima as Administrative Law Judge for an additional six-year term.
Tohoa Tangata Kairua has been appointed Secretary of the Cook Islands’ Ministry of Cultural Development.
Former Fijian journalist and publisher of Islands Business, Samisoni Pareti is Fiji’s new Director of the Department of Information, which falls under the Office of the Prime Minister. He succeeds Izek Lal.
Nauru’s President, David Adeang, has received the credentials of Japanese Ambassador to Nauru, Rokuichiro Michii, and Sara Moriarty, High Commissioner of Australia to Nauru.
The Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific has appointed Saud Minam, Chief Executive of the Fiji Development Bank, as its new Chairman. He replaces Mominul Islam.
Former Fiji Labour Party member, Nitya Reddy has been appointed the new Chairman of South Pacific Fertilizers Limited.
Two commissioners have been appointed to the Niue Public Service Commission (NPSC) – Fisa Pihigia and Fapoi Akesi. NPSC has also appointed new Directors – Natasha Tohovaka and Morgan Mougavalu.
Rokoseru Nabalarua has been appointed the new Board Chair of Energy Fiji Limited. He replaces Dakshesh Patel, who has been reappointed Director and Chairman of the Fiji National Provident Fund Board.
China’s new Ambassador to Samoa, Fei Mingxing, has presented his credentials in Apia. He replaces Chao Xiaoliang.
Toyota Tsusho (South Sea) Limited has announced the appointment of Kevin McCarthy as an independent director to its Board.
American Samoa’s Motusaga Peleti has been appointed to the position of Secretary to the Senate, replacing Leo’o Va’a Ma’o.
Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority (FSDA) has appointed Karla Eggelton as Chairperson of the FSDA Board of Directors.
Fiji Airports has made three new executive appointments: Dr Emmanuel Narayan as Legal Counsel; William Reece as Manager Air Navigation Engineering Services; and Luke Luvevou as Manager Information and Communications Technology.
The Territorial Bank of American Samoa has appointed Owen Peery as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.
Clifton Tootalau has been elected the new Coordinator for the Young Entrepreneurs Council of Solomon Islands.
Navin Raj Shayam has been appointed as an independent director to the board of Fiji Television Limited.
Northern Marianas’ Board of Education has two new members. Herman Manglona Atalig is Chair, and Maisie Bermudes Tenorio is Vice-Chair. Gregory Pat Borja has been re-elected as Secretary/Treasurer of the Board.
In Palau, Governor Mary Frances Ilolang Remengesau-Vogt, State Speaker, Noel Ngiratmab, State Vice-Speaker, Elvira R. Franz, and Floor Leader, Bitlaol M. Wasisang, have been elected to Ngaremlengui’s 11th State Government. Ngaremlengui is one of Palau’s 16 states.
Ahemad Bhamji has been appointed Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Cane Growers Fund (SCGF) while Prattick Shamal Singh joins the SCGF Board of Directors.
The University of Guam has announced the appointment of Dr Pamela Peralta as the Interim Vice Provost, Office of Research and Programs; Dr Gena Rojas will lead Enrollment Management and Student Success as Interim Dean; Dr Maika Vuki is the new Interim Associate Dean in the Colleges of Natural and Applied Sciences; and Professor Andrea Sant is the new Interim Associate Director, Telecommunications and Distance Education, Online Learning.
Taaniela Kula has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the next four years.
City Pharmacy Limited (PNG) has appointed Flare Namaliu to its Board of Directors as a Trainee Director.
Businessman Alain Lew has been appointed Chairman of the newly constituted Board for Air Vanuatu.
Special Awards
Fiji National University’s Assistant Professor of Language and Literature, Dr Subashni Kumar, has been awarded first place in the World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius’ Report Writing Competition for the Asia-Pacific region.
Brisbane-based artist Taloi Havini, originally from Buka Island in Bougainville, has won the Artes Mundi prize, one of the United Kingdom’s most important contemporary arts awards.
Solomon Islander Millicent Barty has been recognised with the Earth’s Impact Hero 2024 award for her exemplary commitment to preserving indigenous knowledge.
In Memory
Yanktesh Permal Reddy, 89, a prominent figure in Fijian tourism and head of the Reddy Group and Tanoa Group of Hotels, died at his Auckland home on January 4.
Vinod Patel, 84, Chairman of Fiji’s Vinod Patel Group of Companies, died in Lautoka on January 5.
Fijian tourism pioneer and icon and distinguished life member of the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association, David Petrie Ragg, died in Sydney on January 1.
Federated States of Micronesia career politician and Chuuk State Senator, Florencio ‘Singkoro’ Harper, died on January 8.
Former Solomon Islands Government Statistician for three decades, Douglas Kimi, died on January 18.
