Kalafi Moala, a seasoned media professional, and Leilani Reklai, a well-known journalist from Palau, have been elected as the new President and Vice President of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Board. This decision was made during the PINA Board meeting held in Niue earlier today.
Moala received 22 out of 36 votes to become President, taking over from Kora Nou of Papua New Guinea, who also ran for the position. Reklai was elected as Vice President with 29 votes, competing against Iliesa Tora from RNZ Pacific.
Following his election, Moala expressed his gratitude to the Board members for their trust in him and promised to advocate for the interests of media throughout the Pacific region. Vice President Reklai regarded her election as a privilege, emphasizing that PINA now truly reflects the media landscape of both northern and southern Pacific regions, as well as smaller newsrooms, which is common in numerous island nations.
Reklai expressed her humility in joining a group of innovative leaders and is eager to work alongside the Board to enhance the Pacific media industry further.