Former Papua New Guinea Chief Justice and Madang Governor, Sir Arnold Amet, has been appointed as
the new PNG Ambassador to the United States of America.
Palau has appointed Stan Shih, founder of Taiwan’s PC brand Acer Group, as a ‘senior economic advisor’ to the government. Shih led a delegation to Palau in March to survey the investment environment of the island country, when the appointment was made by President Surangel Whipps Jr.
The Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands Senate has confirmed the appointment of Workforce
Investment Agency Director, Frances A. Torres, to the Civil Service Commission.
The Football Federation Samoa has appointed Faumuina Margaret Godinet Crichton as its new Chief Executive Officer. She takes on the role of former CEO, Galumalemana Ronna Lee, who had her contract terminated in June 2024.
The Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC) has appointed Henry Cocker as its Finance and Planning manager and Ranadi Tuimoala as its finance officer. Cocker brings extensive regional expertise in public finance with a distinguished career spanning key roles at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Nauru Ministry of Finance, New Zealand Treasury, International Monetary Fund, and Tonga Ministry of Finance. Meanwhile, Tuimoala joins PCRIC with more than 13 years of experience in finance across Fiji’s private and public sectors.
Adrian Ram has been appointed as the new Board Director of Fiji Sugar Corporation. Ram will replace Atil
Narayan who has resigned after serving on the board for five years.
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) Chairman, Sandis Tsaka, announced the reappointment of PNGRFL Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stanley Hondina, for a further three
years.
The South Pacific Stock Exchange has announced that Ajai Punja has resigned as Alternate Director from the Board of Directors of the Company of FMF Foods. The Pacific Network on Globalisation
(PANG) has appointed Joey Tau as its new Coordinator, replacing Maureen Penjueli, who has served as the coordinator for many years. Tau hails from Papua New Guinea.
The New Zealand High Commission in Fiji has announced the appointment of Arti Naidu as the recent addition to its development team. Naidu has over 15 years’ experience in project management, training coordination and stakeholder engagement, and has worked with international NGOs within the public sector, tourism sector, and briefly for the banking sector.
Fiji’s Asit Sen has been appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of Nauru Airlines. He was previously the Finance Manager at the airline and has also worked for Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd and BRED Bank in Fiji.
The National Executive Council has appointed Wellington Navasivu as the Chief Migration Officer for the Papua New Guinea Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority (PNG ICSA). Navasivu has worked in ICSA for 15 years in policy and operational areas, including as a Deputy Chief Migration Officer. He has
also served in the PNG embassies in the Philippines and established the ICSA Morobe Regional Office in Lae.
Manjula Devi has been appointed Ba Town Council acting CEO following a directive by Local Fijian Government Minister, Maciu Nalumisa.
Five new Commissioners have been appointed to serve in the Solomon Islands Independent Commission Against Corruption (SIICAC). They are:
● Former Attorney General, judge and lawyer, James Apaniai as Chairman
● Lawyer, Florrie Alalo, as the Deputy Chair
● Jimmy Sendersley (re-appointed)
● Alfred Ghemu Kituru and
● Michelle Lam
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) has appointed General Manager Regulations Pranil Singh as its acting Chief Executive Officer. Singh was appointed General Manager Regulations in June 2023 at a time when the FCCC was ramping up continued efforts to tackle cost of living concerns and embracing operational excellence.
Former CEO, Joel Abraham, has been appointed as Executive Director at the Asia Pacific Regulatory Centre.
Fiji-owned and operated general insurance company, Sun Insurance, has appointed seasoned veteran, Thomas Naua, to the new executive role of Chief Products Development Officer. Naua has more than 25 years of industry experience and was previously serving as General Manager of Operations.
PNG Hunters Head Coach, Paul Aiton, has confirmed that utility player, Ila Alu, will continue as captain for the 2025 season, following his strong leadership last year.
Vaihere Lissant has been appointed as the new Director General of Tahiti Tourisme. Lissant joined Tahiti
Tourisme in 2014 as Marketing and Communications Manager, and was recently in charge of the Tahiti
destination branding strategy. She is scheduled to take up her new post on 15 May 2025.
FijiCare Insurance Limited has announced the appointment of Jessica Lal as the new Company Secretary.
Lal will be responsible for ensuring that FijiCare adheres to all corporate governance and regulatory requirements, and will support the Board of Directors in achieving the highest standards of
corporate accountability.
His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), officially welcomed Ambassador-designate Roi Rosenblit of the State of Israel during a formal ceremony held at the capital on March 5, 2025. Ambassador Rosenblit presented his Letter of Credence, signifying his
appointment as Israel’s Ambassador to the FSM, with residence in Israel.
National Election Commissioner John Chugen has confirmed that, Andy. P Choor will be representing Yap state in the FSM Congress after a thorough review by the Central and Local Counting and Tabulating Committees. Choor secured 2438 votes during the election.
Talei Gadekilakeba has joined the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN) as the Executive Administrator. She has a strong background in economics, HR, and community engagement, and brings experience from both the Fiji Government and private sector.
Four Weightlifting Fiji coaches – Henry Elder, Eremasi Qalibau, Timothy Vakuruivalu and Della Shaw Elder – have successfully obtained their International Weightlifting Coaching Licenses, a newly established mandatory requirement for coaching at international events. With this certification, the coaches are eligible to participate in global weightlifting competitions. Fijian winger Vinaya Habosi has extended his contract with the French rugby club Racing 92 for another two seasons. Habosi joined Racing 92 in 2022 and had previously played for the Fijian Drua team.
In Cook Islands, the Secretary to the Cabinet, JJ Harold Browne, has announced the reappointment of Carl Hunter as the Public Service Commissioner. Hunter was first appointed to the role in 2021.
Fiji Airways has announced the appointment of Anna Morris as Chief People Officer and Kamal Haer as Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. Morris holds a degree in Business from Auckland University of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts from Ecole Superior de Commerce in France and serves on the board of directors of Food Processors Fiji Limited. Meanwhile, Haer was the first local Head of Marketing, Sales and Distribution for ANZ Bank, Pacific Retail.
Speacial Mentions
Bethalyn Kelly, a young leader from Solomon Islands, has won the Commonwealth Youth Award 2025 for
her eco-friendly project in the Solomon Islands. Bethalyn is the President of Resilience, Innovation, and Social Change – a girls’ club dedicated to empowering young women.
In Memory
Former Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Sir Francis Billy Hilly, passed away at the National Referral Hospital in Honiara. He served as Prime Minister from June 1993 to November 1994 and later held several ministerial and parliamentary roles. Sir Francis was also a candidate for Prime Minister in 2000 and remained active in government until 2007.
Sir David Vunagi, a former governor general, church leader, and highly decorated Solomon Islander, has died in Honiara at the age of 73. Born in Samasodu, Isabel Province, Vunagi passed away after spending several weeks at the National Referral Hospital.
The publisher of Vanuatu’s only daily newspaper, Marc Neil-Jones, passed away following a long illness. Jones, 67, a British national, was a world traveller in his younger years, who teamed up with his business partner in Papua New Guinea, Gene Wong, before they both settled in Port Vila to do business.
