Page 38 - Islands Business March 2022

People People

Dr Amit Chanan Dr Mema Motusaga Professor Katerina Teaiwa
MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Leonard Louma is the new Director (CTSL) welcomes its new statutory PNG Defence Force. She is also known
General of the MSG Secretariat. Louma manager, Peter Aitsi. With 30 years of for being the first PNG female aircraft
is a seasoned PNG diplomat, with experience, Aitsi has led and managed pilot.
postings to the UN, France and China, a number of well-established PNG- Warren Gama is the new Business
and was involved in several regional based businesses including Credit Intelligence Manager at Vanuatu Tourism
initiatives, including the Pacific Island Corp, Newcrest Mining and PNGFM. He Office. Gama has led a number of
Forum’s ‘Pacific Plan’ and the MSG 2038 replaces Sitiveni Weleilakeba, who was community tourism and agriculture
‘Prosperity for All’ plan. removed from the role by PNG’s central programs in Vanuatu.
bank.
The Oceania Boxing Confederation’s
Mining expert Anthony Williamson
new president is French Polynesia’s Dr Amit Chanan is the new Chief joins PNG’s Adyton Resources
Tauhiti Nena. He was formerly OCBC’s Executive Officer of the Water Authority Corporation board as its new Non-
vice president and was president of the of Fiji. Chanan has expertise in urban Executive Director. Meanwhile, Rod
Polynesian Boxing Federation for 23 planning as the Director of City Projects Watt resumes his position in the
years. and Property with the City of Sydney, company as Chief Geologist.
Australia.
Pacific scholar Professor Katerina
Australia’s new High Commissioner to
Teaiwa is the 2021 Australian University Polish-born Father Walenty Gryk has Niue, Louise Ellerton has presented her
Teacher of the Year. Teaiwa was been selected as the new Bishop of the credentials to Premier Dalton Tagelagi.
recognised for her visionary approach Diocese of Goroka, Papua New Guinea. Australia is the second country to
to teaching and mentoring students in Gryk currently serves as the Coordinator establish a diplomatic presence in Niue,
Pacific studies. She is the first Pacific of Formation and Secretary for the first opening its High Commission in Alofi
Islands woman to receive the prestigious Missions of the Verbites in PNG. in August 2020.
award. Born and raised in Fiji, Professor In Niue, John Operator Tiakia is now
Teaiwa is of Banaban, I-Kiribati and a Member Assisting a Minister to support Cook Islander Rebecca Tavioni is
African-American heritage. the new Chief Executive Officer for
Niue’s Minister of Infrastructure with the country’s Chamber of Commerce.
The Nauru government has named high priority projects and the ministry’s Prior to this, Tavioni was the Business
Gillian Itsimaera as the country’s backlog of work for the next six months. Operations Manager for Rarotonga
Auditor General. Itsimaera has been Dr Tammy Tabe joins the Oceania telecommunications provider, Avaroa
the Senior Examiner of Accounts at the Research department at the East-West Cable Limited.
Nauru Audit Office since 2009.
Center in Hawaii. Tabe holds a PhD in
Professor Arun Elias is the newly Social Anthropology from The University Ajay Nand has confirmed that his
appointed Dean for the College of of Bergen, Norway and was an Assistant term as Fiji’s Auditor General has
expired, and he has also withdrawn his
Business, Hospitality and Tourism Lecturer in Environment and Sustainable re-application for the position due to
Studies at the Fiji National University. Development at The University of the personal reasons. Sairusi Dukuno is now
Elias joins FNU from Victoria University South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. acting in the role.
of Wellington, New Zealand, where he Lieutenant Colonel Nancy Wii is
worked for 22 years. President of Fiji Wiliame Katonivere
the first female to be a Commanding
Comrade Trustee Services Limited Officer in the Air Transport Wing of the has announced Mukesh Nand as

38 Islands Business, March 2022