Page 36 - IB July 2021

People People
MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Viliami Takau is the new General Steamships has farewelled board Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Arab
Manager of the Tonga Tourism Author- members John Dunlop, Gerea Aopi Emirates (UAE), Naipote Katonitabua
ity. Takau is a former CEO of the Tonga and Sir Michael Bromley. They’ve each has presented his credentials at the
Chamber of Commerce & Industry and served at least 20 years on the board, Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
of the Friendly Islands Shipping Agency after serving 20 years of their work. Fiji first opened its mission in Abu Dhabi
Ltd. Peter Aitsi has joined the board. in September 2012.

Chief of Staff and Navy Capt Philip Peter Fredricson is now Acting Chief Brent Hill is Tourism Fiji’s new Chief
Polewara has been appointed as Papua Executive Officer at Oil Search, taking Executive Officer. Hill was most recently
New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) over from Dr Keiran Wulff. Recruitment the Executive Director of Marketing for
deputy chief. As Deputy, he will be re- for the substantive appointment will the South Australian Tourism Commis-
sponsible to the Chief of Defence Force start soon. sion, and brings over 16 years of experi-
for the operational and administrative ence in tourism to the role.
readiness of the Defence Force. Dr Helen Cheney is Australia’s new
High Commissioner to Nauru. Dr Cheney In CNMI, Zenie P. Mafnas and Charles
In Cook Islands, Commissioner James has previously served in Bangkok and V. Cepeda have been reappointed as
Keenan has been sworn into his new Jakarta. members of the Northern Marianas
role heading the country’s police force, College Board of Regents, subject to
although he has been active in the posi- Pradeep Lal is the new Chair of the consent from the Senate. The college
tion for a month already. Commissioner Fiji Sugar Corporation. Lal is presently provides post- secondary education for
Keenan previously spent 36 years with the Regional Chief Executive Officer of the people of the Commonwealth of
the New Zealand police force. He was Vodafone Fiji Pte Limited and Managing Northern Marianas.
born in the Cook Islands. Director of Vodafone Papua New Guinea
(PNG). Isei Tudreu has been appointed as
Deloitte PNG has announced the ap- the Acting Chief Executive Officer of
pointment of two new partners, Audit The Fiji Development Bank has ap- Fiji Airports. Tudreu has many years
and assurance partner Debbie Oli and pointed Saud Minam as the Chief Execu- of experience in the aviation industry,
tax partner Sanchika Sutharshan. Their tive Officer. Minam was formerly ANZ’s beginning as an Air Traffic Controller.
appointments double the number of Fiji CEO.
female partners at the firm. PNG Power Managing Director Flagon
Eliam Tangirongo has been commis- Bekker has resigned after just nine
PNG’s Coffee Industry Corporation sioned to take up his new role as Solo- months in the office. Obed Baita, a
has farewelled its board and sworn mon Islands High Commissioner to New local with 30 years of experience is now
in 12 new members: Patrick Komba, Zealand. Tangirongo was the former acting as officer-in-charge. Bekker was
Mark Munnul, Jerry Kapka, Ellyson Solomon Islands High Commissioner to PNG Power’s eighth head in six years.
Ketauwo, Jack Kulam, John Are, John Britain.
Inerehu, Benny Memeyoung, Wel- In Fiji, Pita Tagicakarewa has been
lington Sauni, Stephen Mombi, Agnes Fiji’s Dr Robin Mitchell has been appointed as Acting Permanent Sec-
Martin and Martin Teine. re-elected to the Executive Board of retary for iTaukei Affairs. He was the
the International Olympic Committee former Deputy Secretary for the Minis-
Craig Sims has resigned as Asco Motors (IOC) for another four-year term. Dr try and has also served as the Director
CEO, taking up a senior role at parent Mitchell is also President of the Oceania of the iTaukei Institute of Language &
company Toyota Tsusho Pacific Holdings National Olympic Committee and Acting Culture.
in Brisbane. His departure from Fiji is President of the Association of National
scheduled for September, depending on Olympic Committees. He represented
flight availability. Fiji in athletics and hockey and is a Vale
medical doctor by profession.
Samson Samsen is Vanuatu’s new Min- Ambassador (Ret.d) Litia Gasagasa
ister of Education and Training. One of Acting Permanent Secretary for Econ- Mawi has died in Fiji. Ambassador Mawi
his first jobs will be to resolve the status omy, Shiri Gounder has been appointed was a high decorated civil servant and
of Vanuatu students studying in COVID- to the Fiji National Provident Fund Fiji’s roving ambassador to the Pacific.
afflicted Fiji. Board. Gounder has around 15 years of More recently, she worked as a United
professional experience with both the Nations volunteer.
Reserve Bank of Fiji and the Ministry of
Economy.

36 Islands Business, July 2021