Page 40 - Islands Business January 2021

People People

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Easter Chu Shing is the new Deputy Director of Vision Investments in Fiji. He is currently
General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Head of Treasury at the Fiji National Provident
Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Chu Fund, a significant shareholder in Vision
Shing has worked with SPREP for the past 10 Investments.
years, originally as the Biodiversity Adviser and Executive appointments in Samoa, where
then as Director of Environmental Monitoring Faumuina Iese Toimoana has been appointed as
and Governance.
GM to the Electric Power Corporation, Savaeloa
Zed Seselja is Australia’s new Minister for Mareva Betham-Annandale has been confirmed
International Development and the Pacific. He as the new Attorney General, Heseti Tamali’i-
replaces Alex Hawke, who has been promoted Vaai is the new GM of the Samoa Life Assurance
Easter Chu Shing to the more senior cabinet role of Minister for and Lematua Fuatai Purcell has been appointed
Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and as the Regulator, providing regulatory services
Multicultural Affairs. for Samoa’s telecommunications sector.

New Caledonia’s SLN nickel company has a Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has
new CEO, Guillaume Verschaeve, who will been awarded a United Nations ‘Champion of
have the challenging task of restructuring the Earth’ award. He was one of six laureates,
operations to avoid insolvency. He replaces honoured for his “global climate action work and
Colin McGibbon, who was in the role less than his commitment to climate-responsive national
a year. development.”
Regional telco, Amalgamated Telecom Ambassador Ivan Pomaleu is now Secretary
Holdings (ATH) has three new directors, to the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister’s
Tupou’tuah Baravilala, who is Fiji’s Department. Ambassador Pomaleu has worked
Director-General for Digital Transformation, as Managing Director of Investment Promotion
Cybersecurity and Communication, Viliame Authority and Ambassador to APEC.
Zed Seselja
Vodonaivalu, who is currently Chief Investment Fiji Television has appointed Poonam Nandani
Officer at the Fiji National Provident Fund and as its new Manager Finance. She was previously
Pravinesh Singh, who is FNPF’s Chief Financial Chief Financial Office with Ramada Resort in
Officer. The new directors replace Ajith Port Vila, Vanuatu.
Kodagoda, Tom Ricketts and Arun Narsey.
Mata’afa Keni Lesa has stepped down as
Pacific Trade Invest New Zealand (PTI NZ) Editor of the Samoa Observer. He has been in
has announced the appointment of Rohan Lord the editor’s chair since May 2006 after beginning
as Trade Development Manager. He joins PTI his career there as a cadet reporter in 1999.
from Tegel Foods where he was responsible for
exports into the Pacific region. Tourism Fiji has appointed Robert Thompson
as acting Chief Executive as recruitment for the
Frank Bouraga has been appointed to the substantive position is launched. Thompson is
board of Bank of South Pacific in PNG. He is regional manager, Australia and was previously a
currently a partner at SBC Solutions and has senior destination marketer with Tahiti Tourism.
Tunakaimanu Fielakepa over 25 years’ experience in the insurance
industry. Dr Alvin Lal has received the Fiji National
University (FNU) Vice-Chancellor’s Research
Dowager Lady Tunakaimanu Fielakepa Excellence Award winner in the category
has been awarded a Prince Claus Award for of Early Career Researcher. Dr Lal recently
her achievements in the field of culture and completed his PhD on water management,
development. A committed activist for Tonga’s developing groundwater and forecasting models
living cultural heritage, she is also an expert on for a Kiribati aquifer system in the process.
koloa, the textile arts of Tongan women.
Meanwhile Dr Ravita Prasad has received the
Air Vanuatu has appointed New Zealand- Research Excellence Award 2020 in the category
Tongan ‘Atu Finau as its new CEO. Finau, 56, of Higher Degree by Research.
has experience of more than 25 years as a Frances Brown-Reupena is the new CEO
licensed engineer and began his new role last for Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources
month.
and Environment. Reupena has been with the
Voreqe Bainimarama Ashwin Pal has been appointed to the board ministry for nearly ten years.

40 Islands Business, January 2021