Page 41 - IB May 2021

People People

a focus on youth justice, homelessness, Health Division in the National Health of the 20th, 21st, and 22nd Guam
mental health and issues facing Pacific Department. Legislatures. He also worked as the
Islanders in Australia. He helped Vale Polikalepo Kefu, President of Executive Director of the Guam Base
establish the Pasifika Achievement to the Tonga Leitis Association and Tonga Reuse and Closure (BRAC) Office and
Higher Education program at Western Red Cross communications officer was instrumental in shepherding the
Sydney University, to encourage more died on May 1. “Poli was a shining return and reuse of Tiyan.
young people of Pacific Island heritage star of Red Cross in Tonga, the Pacific, Sarvesh Devan has been appointed
to take up tertiary study. and globally, and was a tireless and to lead the DHL Express team in Fiji

Emily Luck is Australia’s new High selfless humanitarian and human and Pacific Islands as Country Manager.
Commissioner to Samoa. She will also rights advocate. His dedication to He will be responsible for spearheading
be accredited to American Samoa. Luck volunteerism, and ensuring equality for the strategic growth and managing the
was most recently Chief of Staff to the all will be remembered and cherished,” overall business operations in Fiji and
Secretary of Australia’s Department said Tonga Secretary General Sione Pacific Islands. Devan takes over from
of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She Taumoefolau. A man has been charged Mark Komene, who will begin a new
has previously served overseas in with his murder. role as Senior Director of Operations of
Port Moresby and Port of Spain. Luck The Journalists Association of Vietnam.
replaces Sara Moriarty. Western Samoa (JAWS) has elected Lagi Rabih Yazbek has been named as
Meanwhile Brek Batley has been Keresoma of Talamua Online Media ANZ’s new Country Head, Fiji. Yazbek
named as Australia’s first resident as its first woman President. Joining has worked in banking for more than 20
Ambassador to the Republic of the her on the executive is Secretary years. He replaces Saud Minam.
Marshall Islands (RMI). Batley was most Lanuola Tusani Tupufia Ah Tong (Samoa Munro Leys partner Nicholas Barnes
recently Deputy High Commissioner Observer Newspaper) and Treasurer is leaving the Fiji law firm to join the
in Islamabad, and has also worked in Leilua Ame Sene (Radio Polynesia). Wonderful Company. Barnes will be
Papua New Guinea and Afghanistan. In other media news, Johnson replaced as Managing Partner by Glynis
Richard Kassman is the new President Honimae has been appointed as the Yee.
of the PNG Chamber of Mines and new General Manager for the Solomon The Solomon Islands Chamber of
Petroleum, replacing Gerea Aopi. Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC). Commerce and Industry (SICCI) has
Honimae previously held the role in
PNG’s National Gaming Control the early 2000s and is also a former several new board members: Namoi
Board has a new Chairman, Clemence President of the Pacific Islands News Kaluae (Co-founder Adkonect/Pacific
Kanau. Meanwhile Pastor Charles Lapa, Association. Tenders), Kazi Mushfiqur Rahman
Beatrice Mahuru, Everlyn Pukari, (SITCO General Manager) and Dr.
Michael Huanong and Milo Timini have Fiji’s business community has bid Lazarus Tavichikai.
also been elected to the board for goodbye to the late Joel Sahai. Four Pacific Islanders are among
three-year-terms. The former CEO of British American the 41 young leaders standing in the
Tobacco, Sahai also served as a Director
Fiji Kava has appointed Dr Anthony of Leadership Fiji for ten years to election to join the Commonwealth
Noble as CEO, effective May 31. He 2017 amongst other boards, and was a Youth Council as executive members.
replaces interim CEO Nicholas Simms, recipient of Fiji’s 50th Independence All four are standing for the position
who will transition back to his role of Commemorative medal last October. of Chairperson. They are Kim Allen of
Non-Executive Director. Papua New Guinea, Anaseini Ulakai
Jimmy Nipo has been endorsed as of Tonga, and Broderick Mervyn and
Tonga’s only female marine Vanuatu’s High Commissioner to New Mererai Vatege of Fiji. Voting will take
geoscientist, Christina Pome’e, Zealand by the Council of Ministers. The place online on 22 and 23 May, with
has died suddenly due to a medical position has been vacant since the late results announced on 24 May.
condition. Pome’e was the Country Johnson Naviti passed away last August.
Manager for Tonga Offshore Mining Nipo is a former MP, has worked at the Papua New Guinea’s Vani Nades has
Limited (TOML) a local subsidiary of New Zealand High Commission and was joined the Executive Committee of the
The Metals Company, formally known formerly the Director General of the Young Entrepreneur Group of the Asia
as DeepGreen Metals Inc., exploring Ministry of Internal Affairs. Pacific, which sits within the Asia Pacific
polymetallic rocks in international Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
waters containing metals needed for Tangata Vainerere has been Nades brings experience establishing
clean energy. reinstated as the Clerk of Parliament Em Stret Holdings and rolling out ICT
in Cook Islands, a year after he was solutions to rural and remote PNG to
Dr Esorom Daoni has been appointed removed from the position. His the role.
as Deputy Controller of the National selection was recommended by a panel
Pandemic Response in PNG, following comprised of community, judicial and Tonga Power Limited’s Chief executive
the death of late Dr Paison Dakulala, parliamentary representatives. officer, Setitaia Chen, has resigned
who served in that role until his from the role. He was formerly Tonga
passing. Dr Daoni was formerly the Former Guam Speaker, Joe Taitano Power’s General Manager Operations.
PNG National COVID-19 Incident San Agustin has passed away. Agustin Nikolasi Fonua is now acting in the role
Manager at the National Coordination served in the 14th to the 23rd Guam of CEO.
Centre and Executive Manager - Public Legislatures and served as speaker

Islands Business, May 2021 41