Page 42 - IB April 2023

People People

Dr Yimnang Golbuu Junior Aini Miriam Kataunati Shane Rosenthal

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Miriam Kataunati of the Kiribati Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of directors, replacing Mongmong-
Meteorological Service (KMS) is the for the next three years. Seuseu has Toto-Maite Mayor Rudy Paco, who has
country’s first female Oceanographer. served two consecutive terms as Chief resigned from the post.
A graduate of the University of Fiji in Executive Officer of the Scientific
Environmental Science, she started Research Organisation of Samoa. Niue’s Public Service Commission
work at KMS as an Acting Assistant has confirmed Gaylene Tasmania
Climate Officer. Sione Fo’i’akau Lolohea has been as the Deputy Secretary to the
confirmed as Tonga’s new Government Government. The position was recently
Linda Rau Tule, a village court Statistician for the next four years. He re-established, making her the second
magistrate who is also president of the had been serving in the role in an acting highest-ranking public servant, after
Human Rights Defenders Association capacity. Secretary to Government, Peleni Talagi.
PNG, has been recognised with the
Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship for The Asian Development Bank has The Australian Federal Police
her work in mediating conflicts. appointed Shane Rosenthal as the new (AFP) has added a fourth deputy
Regional Director of its Pacific Liaison commissioner, Lesa Gale. She will focus
Benny Popoitai has been appointed and Coordination Office in Sydney, on building international relationships,
the director of Papua New Guinea where he will lead operations for Nauru, particularly in the Pacific. The AFP is
National Stock Exchange. Popoitai is Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. among Australia’s first line of defence.
also the current director of the financial
analysis and supervision unit within the Three Papua New Guinea police Filipo Tarakinikini has been sworn-
Bank of Papua New Guinea. officers have been rewarded for in as Fiji’s Permanent Representative
their roles in a multinational drug to the United Nations (PRUN). He
Samoan Leata Alaimoana has been investigation that stopped kilos of takes over the duties of PRUN from Dr
chosen as the new Queensland Trade methamphetamine from hitting the Satyendra Prasad and will be based in
Commissioner for the Pacific. The streets of Australia and PNG in 2021. New York.
former Impact Investment Manager with They are PNG Customs Commissioner,
Pacific Trade Invest Australia will lead Benjamin Sine; RPNGC Acting Deputy Marshall Islands Ambassador to
the Palaszczuk Government’s Pacific Commissioner, Donald Yamasombi; Fiji, Junior Aini has presented his
Trade Strategy. and RPNGC Transnational Crime Unit credentials to Fiji President Wiliame
Member, Senior Sergeant, Manu Pulei. Maivalili Katonivere. He previously
The Palau International Coral Reef held the position of Assistant Secretary,
Center’s Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Cook Islands Party member Sonny Bureau of U.S. Affairs and Compact
Yimnang Golbuu, has left after 21 Williams has been confirmed as the new Implementation for the Ministry of
years with the Center. He has accepted MP for Titikaveka. He was the former Foreign Affairs and Trade.
a position as Director, Coral Resilience Director for projects and planning at
under The Nature Conservancy covering Infrastructure Cook Islands. Pauline McNeil has been re-appointed
Micronesia, Polynesia Program. as the Solomon Islands’ Permanent
Sinajana Mayor Robert Hofmann Secretary of the Ministry of Health
Seuseu Joseph Tauati is the new has been selected to represent mayors since taking up the role in 2019. She
Chief Executive Officer of Samoa’s on the Guam Visitors Bureau’s board

42 Islands Business, April 2023