Page 42 - Islands Business May 2023

People People

Dika Toua Vanuatu High Commissioner Virania Brown (L) and NZ Minister of Research, Dr Ayesha Verrall (L) with
Foreign Minister Napat. Associate Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Viranria Brown is the first woman to Cook Islander Kairangi Samuela is Gareth Keith Hoar has been
be appointed as Vanuatu’s High the nation’s new High Commissioner appointed British High Commissioner
Commissioner to Fiji since indepen- to New Zealand and Head of Mission to Samoa in succession to David Ward.
dence. She previously served as the First in Wellington. Samuela assumes the Hoar will take up his appointment in
Secretary to the Vanuatu High Commis- High Commissioner role after serving June 2023.
sion in Suva from 2020 to 2023. eight years as the Cook Islands Principal
Immigration Officer. Ian Allan Tarutia is the new
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service Director of Bank South Pacific (BSP).
(FRCS) Senior Customs Officer Joana Associate Professor Dianne Sika- He was appointed to fill the vacancy
Duabaubau is the country’s first female Paotonu from the University of Otago following the retirement of Sir Kostas
Narcotic Detector Dog handler. FRCS has has won the 2022 New Zealand Prime Constantinou.
five detector dog handlers who work in Minister’s Science Communication Prize.
collaboration with K-9 handlers from the It is the first time a Pacific scientist has Valentina Kaman has been appointed
Fiji Police Force. won the award. As a New Zealander of to the PNG Air Company Board, the first
Tongan descent, she has been one of woman to do so. She is also the Deputy
Tourism Fiji has a new executive the few Pacific voices qualified to speak Board Chair of The Voice Inc., a youth-
board. They are: Fantasha Lockington, in detail on the pandemic, explaining led non-profit.
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association CEO; the technical aspects of immunology,
Josaia Rayawa, Former Fiji Airways’ vaccines, the virus and infectious Solomon Islands’ Chamber of
Regional General Manager Sales; diseases to the media. Commerce has hired Marcla Para as
Uraia Rasake, Six Senses Hotel Human its new Finance Officer. She brings
Resources Director; Ilisapeci Matatolu, CNMI Governor Arnold I. Palacios five years of experience as a former
USP Tourism Assistant Lecturer; Pavan has sworn-in several people to fill new administration assistant at Satsol
Singh, Kundan Singh Group Operations and vacant positions: Ray N. Yumul as Limited.
Manager; Eroni Puamau, Rosie Holidays Secretary of Public Works; Glen Hunter
Fiji General Manager; and Salaseini as Special Assistant for broadband Haroon Ali has been appointed
Daunabuna, Ministry of Tourism and policy and development, and Ambrose Chairman of the Association of Banks in
Civil Aviation Permanent Secretary. Bennett as part of the CNMI Cannabis Fiji (ABIF) executive board. The current
Commission. BSP Financial Group Limited Country
The new head of the European Union Head has more than 43 years of banking
Delegation to the Pacific is Barbara Telstra’s Finance and Strategy experience under his belt.
Plinkert, who succeeds Sujiro Seam, Executive Director Roary Stasko has
who has been appointed European been appointed as the new Chief VB Holdings Ltd has elected
Union ambassador to the Association Executive of Telstra’s International Chemonica Niranjan to its Board of
of Southeast Asian Nations. Plinkert business. Stasko will continue to hold Directors. She will serve as its second
was the head of the European External his position on the Digicel Pacific Board, female board member alongside Jinita
Action Service, Southeast Asia Division, and will be based out of San Francisco, Prasad.
based in Brussels. California.
Bank South Pacific has selected
The Pacific Tourism Organisation Philip Mendiola-Long, Dr. Rita A. Kevin McCarthy as the Chairperson
(SPTO) Board of Directors has elected Sablan and Alvaro Santos have joined of BSP Convertible Notes Limited
Adela Issachar-Aru as the new deputy the Marianas Public Land Trust, following (BCN) and Rajeshwar Singh is the new
Chairperson. Issachar–Aru is the current the resignations of former trustees Maria Executive Director of BCN, following the
Executive Officer of Vanuatu Tourism. Frica Pangelinan, Martin B. Ada and resignation of Ronesh Dayal.
Pete Q. Cruz in January.

42 Islands Business, May 2023