Page 37 - IB July 2020

People People

Ngedikes Olai Uludong Bal Kama Priya Singh Sailosi Sawana Cristelle Pratt Dr James Fong
Fiji’s Ambassador of the Republic of Fiji to the United States development analyst of the Commonwealth Development
of America, Amenatave Vakasavuwaqa Yauvoli has been Authority, will be responsible for management of the Oleai
officially commissioned by Fiji’s President. Ambassador Yauvoli Sports Complex, which is badly in need of upgrading.
was most recently the Director General of the Melanesian
Spearhead Group Secretariat based in Port Vila, Vanuatu. The Vatican has named Monsignor Koru Tito as the new
Bishop of Tarawa and Nauru. He currently serves as the
The New Zealand based Pacific Cooperation Foundation Vicar General of the same Diocese and replaces Bishop Paul
(PCF) has appointed Fiso John Fiso as its new board chair. Eusebius Mea Kaiuea. Bishop-elect Tito was ordained a priest
Fiso joined the board in 2018 and has a background in Pacific- in 1987 and has served in Kiribati, Australia, Fiji and Rome.
focused healthcare delivery.
Fiji Airports CEO, Faiz Khan, has passed away in Brisbane,
Fiji Sevens coach Gareth Baber will take Fiji to the Australia after a short illness. Khan was also the Executive
rescheduled Olympic Games in Tokyo next year after agreeing Chair of Pine Fiji. A statement from the organisations said he
a new contract with the Fiji Rugby Union. Baber’s four-year was “one of Fiji’s finest executive chairman, chairman and
deal was scheduled to end in December but Fiji rugby officials chief executive officers.”
asked him to stay on.
Tonga’s Ambassador to Japan, Tevita Suka Mangisi
The CEO of the Vanuatu Association of Sports and National presented his credentials to Japan’s Emperor Naruhito in
Olympic Committee (VASANOC) is leaving for a government Tokyo late June in the first ceremony of its type for three
role. Henry Tavoa will be the director of the Government’s months, due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Department of Youth Development and Sport after 29 years
with Vanuatu sporting organisations. Telei’ai Dr Lalotoa Mulitalo Seumanutafa has been
reappointed by Samoa’s Cabinet to the position of Executive
Experienced Solomon Islands public servant Jane Waetara Director of the Samoa Law Reform Commission for her second
is the new chief of Solomon Islands Electoral Commission. term. Telei’ai is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court
She replaces Mose Saitala, who says he will remain as an of Samoa.
advisor to the SIEC. Amongst Waetara’s first tasks will be
planning for three by-elections for Central Honiara, North East Dr James Fong has been appointed as Fiji’s acting
Guadalcanal and South Choiseul. Permanent Secretary for Health and Medical Services,
effective immediately. Dr Fong replaces Bernadette Welch,
Samoan studies scholar, Dr Akeli Amaama, has been who has returned to Australia after four years in the role.
appointed as Te Papa’s new Head of History and Pacific Amongst Dr Fong’s previous roles is Head of Obstetrics and
Cultures, leading a team of curators who research New Gynaecology Unit CWM Hospital, and General Manager of Fiji’s
Zealand history and the histories of Pacific people in New COVID-19 Incident Management Team.
Zealand. She was previously director of the centre for Samoan
studies at the National University of Samoa. Dr Sereima Bale is retiring after 22 years with the Fiji
National University’s College of Medicine, Nursing, and Health
Koni Iguan was named as Deputy Speaker of Papua New Sciences. Dr Bale, an Assistant Professor of Anaesthesia at the
Guinea Parliament late last month, replacing Jeffery Komal. CMNHS, was seconded to join the then Fiji School of Medicine
(FSM) in 1998 as a Senior Lecturer in Anaesthesia. She had
Northern Marianas Sports Association has named spent 28 years working for Fiji’s health ministry before joining
Carline Sablan as its executive director. Sablan, a former academia.

Islands Business, July 2020 37