Veteran media professional Kalafi Moala and acclaimed Palauan journalist Leilani Reklai have been elected as the new President and Vice President of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Board. The election occurred during a PINA Board meeting held in Niue this morning.
Moala received 22 out of 36 votes to take the position of President, succeeding the outgoing President Kora Nou from Papua New Guinea, who also ran for the role. Reklai garnered 29 votes, securing her position as Vice President against competitor Iliesa Tora from RNZ Pacific.
In his remarks to the Board after his election, Moala expressed gratitude for the members’ trust, committing to lead PINA in advocating for the interests of media throughout the Pacific region. Vice President Reklai emphasized the honor of her election, highlighting that PINA now more accurately reflects the media landscapes of both the northern and southern Pacific, along with the smaller newsrooms typical of many island nations. She expressed her eagerness to work with the Board to further enhance the Pacific media industry.