The University of the South Pacific Council has appointed Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu as the Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, effective from November 27, 2024. The decision was reached during the Council’s 98th meeting held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on November 25.
Utoikamanu is a seasoned professional in international development, with more than 40 years of experience across diverse fields such as public financial management, public administration reform, good governance, project management, and consultancy. His extensive career has spanned multiple Pacific nations, including Tonga, Fiji, Tuvalu, Niue, Samoa, Nauru, Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.
Having previously served as the Director of the Pacific Islands Centre for Public Administration (PICPA) from 2012 to 2015, Utoikamanu is familiar with the University of the South Pacific. He is also an alumnus, having completed his Preliminary Programme in 1974.
Utoikamanu holds several advanced degrees, including a Master of Social Science in Development Finance from Birmingham University, a Master of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University of Wellington, and undergraduate honors and regular Bachelor degrees in Commerce and Administration, also from Victoria University.
His professional affiliations include membership with the American Economic Association, the Asia and Pacific Policy Society at the Australian National University, and the Legal and Technical Commission of the International Seabed Authority. He also serves as a director at the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company and is a member of the Privy Council of the Kingdom of Tonga.
Utoikamanu has contributed to the fields of fiscal governance, public sector management, and economics through various publications. Emeritus Professor Pat Walsh, the Acting Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council, expressed the university’s pride in welcoming Utoikamanu, highlighting the institution’s potential as it enters a new phase of development under his guidance.
This appointment brings a wave of optimism for the University of the South Pacific, as Utoikamanu’s vast expertise promises to strategically steer the institution towards growth and enhanced governance in the coming years. His commitment to development in the Pacific region, coupled with his extensive knowledge and experience, positions the university to thrive in future endeavors.
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