Page 39 - IB December 2023

People People

Leilani V. Lujan Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba (L-R) President of the Swiss Confederation, Alain Berset with Nauru Ambassador,
Chitra Jeremiah

confirmed the appointment of Chere Pacific Immigration Development Tonga’s National Invasive Species
Arthur as Principal Immigration Officer. Community has appointed Nanai Sovala Coordinator, Viliami Hakaumotu has
Agaiava as its new Deputy Head of the been honoured as the 2023 Battler of
Businessman Robert Lee has Secretariat. the Year. He has played a pivotal role
been appointed as Fiji’s Ambassador in coordinating operations to restore
Designate to The People’s Republic of Solomon Islands’ new Director of biodiversity at priority sites in Tonga.
China. Public Prosecutions is Andrew Kelesi.
He replaces Rachel Olutimayin. Veteran Samoan journalist, Lagipoiva
Fiji Airways’ new Chief Financial Cherelle Jackson has been awarded
Officer is Naomi Vuibureta. She was the The Board of Directors at the National the Freedom of the Media Award for
airline’s Financial Controller for seven Bank of Vanuatu has appointed John Excellence in Commentary and Criticism
years. Aruhuri as the bank’s new Managing in advocating for the rights of minority
Director. journalists around the world.
Papua New Guinea’s Acting Governor-
General, Job Pomat has sworn-in The iTaukei Land Trust Board has Elena Qereqeretabua is the first
Emmanuel Pok as the new Head appointed Cama Raimuria as its General Fijian and Pacific Islander to win the
of Registrar of Political Parties and Manager Corporate Services. prestigious J. Willard Marriott Award of
Candidates, and Joseph Molita as Excellence. She is the Assistant Front
Acting Ombudsman of the Ombudsman Rohit Punja has stepped down as the Office Manager at the Sheraton Fiji Golf
Commission of PNG. Director of the Rice Company of Fiji & Beach Resort.
and Chairman of the Atlantic & Pacific
Joeli Cawaki is the new Chief Packaging Company Limited, which are In Memory
Executive Officer of the Fiji Maritime subsidiaries of FMF Foods Limited. He Former Speaker of the Niue
Safety Authority. has been replaced by Sanjay Punja. Legislative Assembly, Johnny Tofo
Funaki, and Jack Willie Lipitoa,
Desmond Tsiana is the newly New Zealand’s Dame Valerie Adams, former Member of the Niue Legislative
appointed Acting Commissioner for the a double Olympic and four-time world Assembly for the Village of Namukulu,
Bougainville Electoral Commission. champion in the shot put, has been have passed away.
elected as World Athletics Athletes’
Steph Anderson has joined the Commission Chair. Fiji’s former politician and career
Australian Embassy in Palau as its new civil servant, Poseci Bune has been laid
Second Secretary (Development). Special Awards to rest. He also served as Chair of the
Tongan-born immunologist Chris Public Service Commission.
Dr Sean MacDuff has been appointed Puli’uvea has received the Cranwell
as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Medal, a New Zealand Association of Former Fiji Chief Justice, Kamal
Superintendent for the Mariana Trench Scientists’ award, alongside fellow Kumar has died. He was appointed as
Marine National Monument. academic researcher and virologist Dr Acting Chief Justice in 2019 and sworn
Natalie Netzler for their contribution in in as Chief Justice in 2021.
Theodore D. Subris and Richard informing Māori and Pacific communities
Ngiratrang have been sworn in to the during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Palau Bureau of Public Safety.

Islands Business, December 2023 39