Assistant Superintendent Ilisapeci Tuvuki, a veteran officer with more than two decades in the Fiji Police Force, is leading a practical overhaul of leadership training as the new head of school for leadership and management at the Fiji Police Academy. Her appointment and hands-on approach mark the latest development in the force’s push to professionalise leadership and broaden career pathways for women officers.
Tuvuki’s career began at Nadi Police Station after she joined the force in 2005. Early in her service she was selected as one of an 11-member team — led by ASP Makereta Ciri — to help establish border policing at Nadi Airport, an experience she describes as a proud milestone because the team was female-led. She later served at Sigatoka, building frontline operational experience before being chosen for the cadet training programme that ran for two years and concluded in 2009; during that period she was promoted to corporal.
A decade after her cadet deployment, Tuvuki moved into Internal Affairs in 2019, where she worked on investigations into complaints against officers and on strengthening professional standards. Her work there — as investigator, administrator and staff officer — led to promotion to sergeant and broadened her exposure to accountability and institutional ethics. She subsequently worked alongside ACP Aporosa Lutunauga on planning, research and doctrine, deepening her experience in policy and strategic development.
Seeking to better align her academic background with operational roles, Tuvuki transitioned into Human Resources. Starting as an attaché, she progressed within the Human Resources Unit to be confirmed and promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police, taking on responsibility for workforce strategy as manager for Planning and Development. That blend of frontline, investigative and HR experience now shapes the curriculum she is updating at the academy.
“As head of school I’ve been aligning our programmes with the leadership training I’ve received,” Tuvuki said. “It’s about preparing officers not just to serve, but to lead effectively.” Her reforms emphasise continuous learning and practical leadership skills, with a focus on readying officers for both operational command and strategic roles within the organisation.
Tuvuki’s academic credentials include a double major in Human Resource Management and Management from the University of the South Pacific, postgraduate certificates and a diploma in HRM, and she is currently working toward a master’s degree. She has been vocal in encouraging officers across the force to undertake courses and leadership training to broaden their perspectives and better serve the public.
Her elevation to a central training role comes amid a broader trend of women rising in senior ranks within the Fiji Police Force. Earlier this year, Loraini Seru became the first woman appointed Assistant Commissioner to head Internal Affairs — a sign, officials say, that merit-based promotions and professional development are creating more visible pathways for female leaders. As the academy’s leadership school is reshaped under Tuvuki, the force appears to be doubling down on education and workforce planning as pillars of modern policing in Fiji.
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