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People People

Zane Yoshida Mark Brown Professor Toby Wilkinson So’oletaua Motuliki Dr Nathan K. Kere Cheerieann Wilson
Kere. He replaces Chief Justice Sir Albert R. Palmar whose Fiji Rugby Logistic Officer Talei Thomas has been accredited
term as SINU Chancellor ended in March this year. Dr Kere by World Rugby as the first female Match Commissioner in the
is currently a Medical Officer and Managing Director of East Pacific. She trained for the role during the COVID-19 lockdown
Medical Centre, his private medical practice in Honiara. this year during the Skipper Cup competition in Fiji.

Jeremy Hackett is the new General Manager at British Eric Mossman is the new CEO of the PNG Tourism Promo-
American Tobacco PNG. Hackett takes over from Stephanus tion Authority, replacing Jerry Agus. Mossman was previously
Duvenage. He was previously BAT PNG Head of Marketing, and Director Corporate Services with the Authority.
General Manager for BAT Fiji.
The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji has a new chief execu-
The Cook Islands government has created an advisory com- tive officer, Australian Simon Gravenall. The former consul-
mittee to provide community perspectives on seabed mining. tant and staff of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority says
Bishop Tutai Pere, Makiuti Tongia, Sam Napa, Makiroa Mitch- he is immensely excited to take on the new role.
ell, George Williamson, Maru Mariri and Seabed Minerals
Commissioner, Alex Herman, make up the group. They will be Former parliamentarian Maureen Melekitama has been
tasked with making recommendations to the Seabed Minerals appointed as the Niue government’s Internal Auditor. First
Authority as it deliberates on the opening of applications for elected to parliament in 2017, Melekitama previously worked
exploration licenses. at the tax office.

Former journalist Cheerieann Wilson is now Strategic Com- In memorium
munications Manager of the We Rise Coalition. The Coalition Palau is mourning the passing of former President Kuniwo
consists of femLINKpacific, the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement Nakamura, who died on 14 October aged 76. Nakamura
(FWRM) and the International Women’s Development Agency served as the president of Palau from 1993 to 2001. Palau
(IWDA) which work together on issues of inclusive governance, President Tommy Remengesau credited Nakamura for leading
equality, diversity, justice and women’s human rights. the young Pacific nation to its independence. “He was present
from the earliest of Palau’s trust territory days; led us as we
Indian diplomat Sushil Kumar Singhal has been appointed proudly declared our independence; and was with us through
as the next High Commissioner to Solomon Islands. He will the first 25 years of sovereign statehood,” Remengesau said.
continue to be based in Port Moresby, where he is also accred-
ited as High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea. Former Marshallese President Litokwa Tomeing passed
away 12 October. He held the Presidential position in 2008-
PNG’s former Chief Migration Officer and University of PNG 9 and was also a former Speaker of the Legislature and a
lecturer Solomon Kantha is the new Chief of Mission for the teacher. He was a Marshallese delegate to Constitutional Con-
International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Fiji. The East ventions with the US and inaugurated a Marshallese consulate
Sepik man takes up his first international posting seven years in Arkansas.
after Fiji became an IOM member.
An advocate for Utah’s Pacific Island community, Margarita
Halatoa Fua of the Cook Islands has been elected Chairman Satini, has died of complications from the coronavirus. Satini
of the Pacific Tourism Organsiation (SPTO). Fua had been serv- was chair of the Utah Pacific Islander Civic Engagement
ing as interim Chair, and his role was confirmed at a recent Coalition and on the board of the Utah Pacific Islander Health
virtual meeting of the organisation. Josefa Tuamoto, CEO of Coalition.
Tourism Solomons, is the new Deputy Chairman.

Islands Business, November 2020 37