Page 34 - IB January 2024

People People

Dr Hilda Heine Rev Elder Dr Leatulagi Faalevao Sarah Mecartney Max Taylor Delai

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Marshall Islands has elected Dr Hilda Academy at West Point. Akipe as Secretary of the Department
Heine as its 10th President. Dr Heine of Defence; Sandis Tsaka as Provincial
previously served as President from The University of Otago has appointed Administrator of Enga province; John
2016-2020. She replaces David Kabua. Dr Siautu Alefaio as the first Pacific Punde as Provincial Administrator for
Professor of Psychology, and Iki Mafi Simbu province; and Benjamin Samson,
Rev Elder Dr Leatulagi Faalevao has Uele as the first Pacific lecturer of who has been reappointed as Lands and
been elected moderator of the Pacific Accountancy and Finance. Physical Planning Secretary.
Council of Churches, the first American
Samoa church leader to take up the Colonel Silivia Vananalagi, Fiji’s New Zealand-based Niuean-born
position. He is the current Chair of newly appointed Military and Police doctor, Sir Collin Tukuitonga has been
the Congregational Christian Church of Advisor to the United Nations, has taken made a Fellow by the International
American Samoa and will lead the PCC up her position at Fiji’s UN Mission Science Council. He will also serve as
(Pacific Conference of Churches) for the in New York. Her appointment to the Chair of a transition team that will
next five years. position is the first for a female. assist in laying the groundwork for Dr
Saia Ma’u Piukala, incoming Pacific
The Pacific Community (SPC) has Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago Regional Director of the World Health
appointed Sarah Mecartney as Regional is the new Regional Director for the Organization.
Director, Melanesia. She will be Oceania region at the International
stationed at SPC’s Regional Office in Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Four new Papua New Guinean Heads
Port Vila, Vanuatu. Oceania. of Missions have been commissioned on
four-year terms to New Zealand and
Former Nauru President, Russ Kun Justice Derek Wood has been sworn Australia. They are High Commissioner
has been sworn in as the country’s new in as a Judge of the Papua New Guinea to New Zealand, Sakias Tameo; Consul
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and National and Supreme Courts of Justice General to Sydney, Ponabe Yuwa;
Trade. He was President of Nauru until for a period of three years. Consul General to Brisbane, Reatua
a vote of no confidence in parliament in Rau; and Consul General to Cairns,
October. Fiji’s new Roving Ambassador to the Damien Arabagali.
Pacific Island Countries and Territories
Fiji’s Minister for Women, Children and Agencies of the Council of Regional Fiji’s former Attorney General, Aiyaz
and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya Organisations in the Pacific is William Sayed-Khaiyum has resigned from his
has been elected President of the Toganivalu. He previously held the position as FijiFirst Party’s General
Kadavu Rugby Union. She is the first position of Adviser to the Country Secretary. He has been replaced by
female president of a provincial rugby Director at GIZ Risk Management. Faiyaz Koya.
union.
Four key government officials in Solomon Islands’ new Ambassador to
Second Lieutenant Max Taylor Delai Papua New Guinea have been appointed the People’s Republic of China is Barret
has made history by becoming Fiji’s to permanent roles. They are Hari John Salato.
first-ever graduate from the US Military

34 Islands Business, January 2024