Page 33 - IB June 2019

People

Alilia Tupou Photo: Victoria University Jacqui Evans Photo: Goldman Foundatio

significant effort to protect the environment, often at personal Papua New Guinea’s Lady Roslyn Morauta has been named
and professional risk. Evans was heavily involved in a five- as vice-chair to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis
year grassroots campaign to protect the Cook Islands’ oceans, and Malaria . “The Global Fund can provide tremendous sup-
which led to the passing of the Marae Moana Act in 2017. port, and I know firsthand what a difference it can make,”
The Marae Moana Act legislates sustainable management and said Lady Roslyn. “There is no time to lose with such an
conservation of the Cook Islands’ ocean territory, and protects ambitious agenda. Lady Morauta has previously worked for
more than 323,000 square kilometres of ocean from large- PNG’s National Planning office, the Department of Finance
scale commercial fishing and seabed mining. Evans has been and Treasury and in the private sector, both as a management
director and sole employee of its administrative unit, the Marae consultant and running businesses.
Moana Coordination Office, since the law came into effect.
In Samoa, Leausa Dr Take Naseri has been appointed as Chief
Fiji’s Dr Jiko Luveni has been posthumously recognised Executive Officer and Director General of the Ministry of Health
with the Global Health Hero Award from the World Health (MOH) for the next three years. Dr Naseri holds a Masters
Organisation (WHO). The award recognises those who have in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Queensland,
championed the cause of health, successfully influenced Australia and a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery
political agendas, and contributed to raising awareness on (MBBS) from the University of Papua New Guinea. He was a
health issues globally. Announcing the award, Lori Sloate, student of Samoa College. Dr Naseri is a registered practicing
Moderator of the High Level Segment, said Dr Luveni was a physician and has served Samoa in the Medical Profession
committed and passionate champion for health, social welfare for over 25 years. He had also served in American Samoa and
and women, and that: “her work in both health and politics in New Zealand in the fields of Anaesthesia and ICU, Internal
made a significant impact both locally and internationally.” Medicine and Infectious Diseases and Population Health. Since
The first Fijian woman to graduate as a dentist from the Fiji 2017 as the Director General of Health, Dr Naseri has led the
School of Medicine, Dr Luveni was a lifelong health and social reorganisation of the realigned health system; with emphasis
advocate. In 2014, she became the first female Speaker of the on prevention, research and population health.
Parliament in Fiji, a position she held until passing away in
December 2018. David Vaeafe has been named Chairman of the South Pa-
cific Tourism Organisation. Vaeafe is executive director of
The new CEO of Samoa’s Tourism Authority is Faamatuainu the American Samoa Visitors Bureau. He replaces Papali’i
Lenata’i Suifua. Faamatuainu has been working for the Matatamalii Sonia Hunter of Samoa. Niue’s Felicity Bollen
Authority for almost ten years and has held a senior position is the new deputy chair.
in the marketing division. He replaces Papalii Sonja Hunter.
Viran Molisa Trief is set to be the first ni-Vanuatu woman
The Marianas Visitors Authority has hired a new managing to be appointed to the bench of Vanuatu’s Supreme Court.
director, Priscilla M. Iakopo. A former director for procure- She is a former Solicitor General and was most recently, the
ment and supplies at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corpora- Programme Coordinator of the Stretem Rod Blong Justice and
tion, Iakopo has no direct experience in the tourism industry, Sefti, a Vanuatu Australian Policing and Justice Programme.
but has a Masters in Business. She is expected to commence judicial duties mid-year.

Islands Business, June 2019 33