Alex Herman, the Seabed Minerals Commissioner at the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority has resigned. Herman will take up a regional role with the Pacific Community (SPC) in early 2025. Under Herman’s five-year tenure, Cook Islands granted five-year exploration licences to three companies to determine the feasibility of deep-sea mining for polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt, copper, nickel and manganese, and saw the passing of various legislations.
The new Group CEO at Harmony Gold Mining Company is Beyers Nel. He operates the Hidden Valley mine and holds 50% of the shares in the Wafi Golpu joint venture. Nel succeeds Peter Steenkamp, who retires at the end of this year.
The University of the South Pacific (USP) Council has appointed Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu to the Office of the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council for a three-year term, until 26 November 2027. Utoikamanu has more than 40 years of experience in the areas of public financial management, public administration reform, good governance, project management and independent consultancy in a number of Pacific Island countries. He is an alumnus of USP and served as Director, Pacific Islands Centre for Public Administration between 2012 and 2015.
Meanwhile, USP academics have featured in the global Top 2% Scientists List compiled by Standford University based on their citations and publications. Professor Ahmed Rafiuddin has been featured on the list for five consecutive years, with Professor Surendra Prasad featured since 2022. Professor Maurizio Cirrincione, the former Head of the School of Information Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics, is the third academic to feature.
The Guam Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday elected seven board directors to serve a three-year term. The elected board directors include Vincent C. Camacho, who is managing principal, Camacho Calvo Law Group LLC, William H. Calori, director and chief financial officer, Cabras Marine Corporation, Seabridge Inc, Tae Oh, owner and vice president, Vantage Advertising, Daniel Tydingco, executive vice president, TeleGuam Holdings LLC dba GTA, and Kim Anderson Young, president/owner, Security Title Inc.
H.E. Captain Ian Finley, Permanent Representative of the Cook Islands at the International Maritime Organization, has been presented with the International Maritime Prize for 2023. Captain Finley was nominated for the Prize by the Government of the Cook Islands. As a delegate to the IMO, representing Panama, and more recently the Cook Islands, he has been an active participant in the development of virtually all safety, environmental and legal legislation adopted by the Organization since 1995.
Mae Bruton-Adams, executive director of Micronesian Conservation Trust, has joined the Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies board of governors. She will assume the position vacated by William Kostka, former executive director of MCT. Bruton-Adams is the founder and former managing director of APLŸS Consulting, an environmental consulting firm focused on sustainable development and climate resilience. She is also the founder of the Kaselehlie Press, the longest-running newspaper in the Federated States of Micronesia.
In American Samoa, the new senator for Manu’a District #2 is Lualemaga Sofeni Lualemaga, who has been appointed to fill the vacancy left by former Senator Malaepule Saite Moliga’s resignation.
Barbara Elliston has been appointed as an engineering professional for Rarotonga’s power authority, Te Aponga Uira (TAUU). Elliston brings extensive expertise from both the private and public sectors, particularly in the electricity industry, with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and a deep understanding of power systems management, product development, and economic analysis.
Filimone Waqabaca is the new Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Development Bank. Currently serving as Fiji’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Japan, he previously held the position of Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, and has worked across national, regional, and international financial institutions, including the Reserve Bank of Fiji, International Monetary Fund, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and Fiji’s Ministry of Finance.
The Australia Fiji Business Council (AFBC) has announced the election of Zane Yoshida, Founder of The Calmer Co (formerly known as Fiji Kava), as the 15th President of the Australia Fiji Business Council. As President, he will lead efforts to strengthen trade, investment, and cultural ties between Australia and Fiji. Emma Low, Managing Director Pacific at Westpac Banking Corporation; Greg Ingram, Managing Director of FNE Communications; and David Gibson, Managing Director of Gibson Freight, were elected as Vice-Presidents, with David Gibson also taking on the role of Treasurer. Other appointments to the Executive Committee include Philip Bird of Marine and Civil Maintenance Pty Ltd, Jeremy Grennell of Pacific Trade Invest, and Vosawale Toganivalu-Tamani of ANZ Banking Pacific. They join existing Executive Committee members: Allison Haworth West, Steve Hillyard, Chanh Lovan, Dakshesh Patel, and Sam Raciti.
In PNG, Trudi Egi has been appointed CEO of MiBank, effective 1 January 2024. She succeeds Tony Westaway, who is retiring.
Veena Singh is the incoming Co-chair of AWID, the Association for Women’s Rights in Development, a global feminist, membership, movement- support organisation. Singh has worked for Fijian and regional organisations in human rights, gender equality and social inclusion for more than 20 years.
Lani Young of Samoa’s Tri-Sports Samoa Association has been elected Vice President of Oceania Triathlon. The regional organisation is a Continental Confederation of World Triathlon and its mission is to develop multisports in the Pacific. Pete de Wet of New Zealand was selected as President. Olympian Manami Iijima of Guam will be the Athlete Representative on the Board.
Notable achievements
A Tongan graduate who is pursuing a nursing degree has won the Supreme Award at the Ara Institute of Canterbury end of year Pacific Achievement Awards. Uinita Tapa’atoutai was quick to thank her wider Pacific community. Uinita began her study journey in 2022, graduating with a Bachelor of Applied Management from Otago Polytechnic, but she soon found her calling in nursing. She is just finishing up her second year in the Bachelor of Nursing programme.
Samoan academic Dr Analosa Veukiso-Ulugia has been awarded the Health Research Council of New Zealand Sir Thomas Davis Te Patu Kite Rangi Ariki Health Research Fellowship. A senior lecturer and Health Research Council postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Auckland, she said the project will focus on safeguarding Pacific children and youth through community education and big data.
In Fiji, Bula Boys and Rewa star Tevita Waranivalu was named Fiji Footballer of the Year while Adi Litia Bakaniceva took out the women’s award. Sterling Vesconciloious and Elesi Tubunase are the Young Footballers of the Year. Elite Player of the Year Awards went to Maika Dau of Nasinu and Vilomena Batirerega.
In memory
Former Papua New Guinea MP, Michael Malabag has passed away. Malabag, a key member of the People’s National Congress, served a term as member for Moresby North-West between 2012 and 2017.
New Caledonia is mourning the death of Great Chief William Boarat, from the district of Koumac. The 66-year-old leader allegedly died when he tried to intervene in an argument between two people in his community.
