As Fiji marks International Women’s Week, a fresh profile of a public servant underscores how women in government are reshaping traditionally male-dominated sectors through a blend of technical skill and steady leadership. Arieta Tunidau, an investigation officer in the Offshore Fisheries Division, balances the rigours of fisheries management with a high‑pressure role as personal executive support officer to the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry — a duality she describes as more than a job, but a vocation.
Tunidau’s investigative work is focused squarely on education as much as enforcement. Her role sees her move between field and office to investigate alleged breaches of maritime regulations, outcomes ranging from formal warnings to prosecutions. Each completed case, she says, is intended to do more than adjudicate: it is an opportunity to teach companies and individuals about the mandates that safeguard Fiji’s maritime space and fisheries resources.
“Working in the government is not just a profession; it is a vocation,” Tunidau said, capturing the driving idea behind her public service. For her, the value is found in the act of service itself — in assisting others and in the ripple effects of compliance and improved stewardship of coastal resources. That approach positions fisheries investigations not merely as legal processes but as a practical tool for long‑term resource conservation and community education.
Her parallel responsibilities at the ministerial level have honed a different set of competencies. As a personal executive support officer to the Minister, Tunidau says she has developed the ability to manage pressure and to read and respond to people — skills she ranks among her greatest professional achievements. In the fast, often unpredictable environment of ministerial work, she says emotional intelligence and composure have become more important than simply finishing tasks.
Behind that composure is a tightly knit “village” that Tunidau credits for sustaining her. She emphasizes the quality of her safe space — notably the support of her husband and “nenna Lo,” who take on household duties during late shifts, and the inspiration she draws from her 84‑year‑old father. Her four children, she says, remain her principal motivation, fueling the personal sacrifices required by public life.
Tunidau offers direct advice to women entering technical and leadership roles: focus on mastering the craft and let evidence and expertise speak rather than trying to conform by volume or posture. “Embrace the fact that you were born to stand out rather than struggling to adapt,” she urges, arguing that authenticity, compassion and emotional intelligence are strengths, not liabilities.
Her story arrives amid renewed emphasis on women leading with empathy, expertise and commitment to service — themes promoted this year for International Women’s Day. Tunidau’s example shows how those values play out in practice: through enforcement that educates, ministerial service that steadies, and personal resilience supported by family — all contributing to better governance of Fiji’s offshore fisheries.
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