It’s official: Cabinet approves appointment of Chief Executives

24 January 2019, 12:00AM

Cabinet has officially approved the appointment of Chief Executive Officers to take over six Government Ministries and one Public Body over the next three years, following completion of government’s thorough recruitment and selection process. Some of these appointments have already been reported by the Samoa Observer. These are their official profiles provided by Cabinet:

PESETA NOUMEA SIMI; CEO Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, (MFAT)

Peseta holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of New England-Australia, a Graduate Certificate in Management and an Advanced Diploma of Business Management from the University of New England in Australia.

Peseta previously served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Assistant Secretary Aid – Economic from 1988 to 2003. She served in the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet as Head of Rural Development Programme from 1986 to 1988 and as an Executive Secretary of the Women’s Advisory Committee from 1979 to 1986.

 She was also a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific School of Agriculture (Biochemistry) – Food Processing Lab in 1978 to 1979.

Peseta has coordinated many Government aid development programmes over many years and has led key international and regional meetings preparations that government had hosted in Samoa and had participated overseas since she became CEO in 2016. This is her second term in office.

 

FUALAU TALATALAGA MATA’U MATAFEO-CEO Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, (MCIT)

Fualau holds a Bachelor of Science (Computer Science & Information System) from the University of the South Pacific, Suva Fiji.

He has 16 years of experience both in the ICT and Public Administration Sectors. Eight of which have been in Managerial position, first with the Samoa Public Service Commission and currently with the MCIT as Assistant Chief Executive Officer looking after ICT Policy.

Since joining MCIT, Fualau has played a leading role in the formulation of the Communication Sector Strategy, and the Samoa National Cyber Security Policy. Relating to this is the development of the Social Media Policy, the National Broadcasting Policy to name a few.

Fualau takes over from his predecessor Lealiie’e Tua’imalo Asamu Ah Sam who has held the post for the last 16 consecutive years.

 

TEVAGA VIANE TAGIILIMA- CEO Unit Trust of Samoa, (UTOS)

Tevaga holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and possesses considerable and highly relevant financial management experience from both in government and in state-owned enterprises. 

Tevaga began his career at the Ministry of Finance and climbed the corporate ladder consistently. He was ACEO for    the Budget Division of the Ministry Finance in 2006 and worked in the Ministry for 11 years. He brings to this new role regional experience given his previous role as Director of Finance for the Pacific Theological College in Fiji for 3 and a half years. He is currently the ACEO, Corporate Services for the Land Transport Authority (LTA). 

Tevaga succeeds the CEO position left vacant with the passing of Sa’u Justina Sa’u.

 

LEASIOSIOFAASISINA OSCAR MALIELEGAOI- Chief Executive Ministry of Finance, (MOF).

Leasiosiofa’asisina holds a Master of Applied Business Economics from the University of Asia and Pacific, Philippines complemented by a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting, Banking and Finance from the University of South Pacific, Suva Fiji.

He is a Certified Public Accountant in the Samoa Institute of Accountants.

Mr. Malielegaoi was Director’s Advisor at the Manila based, Asian Development Bank from April 2014 to December 2017. Prior to his overseas assignment, Leasiosiofaasisina headed the Ministry of Finance’s Budget Division as Assistant Chief Executive Officer and held other senior positions in Government including 2 years as Assistant Public Trustee - Finance and Investment.He started his public service career in the Ministry of Finance as an Accounting Officer.

The appointee was the sole applicant for the post and he succeeds Lavea Iulai Lavea.

 

AGAFILI TOMAIMANO SHEM LEO Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (MPMC)

Agafili holds a Master of Arts in Governance, a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Education in Geography from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji. He is a qualified Secondary Trained Teacher.  

Agafili began his career as a public servant in the teaching profession, teaching at Samoa College for five years. 

His service for the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet commenced in 2007 as a Principal Policy Analyst for Security and Environment. 

He was appointed to the role of ACEO for the Cabinet Secretariat in 2010 until 2015. 

Agafili was appointed as CEO of the Ministry in 2016 and had coordinated major national policy development across the whole of government, and had led monitoring of the implementation of Cabinet directives. He also led the development of key national policies that fall under the Ministry’s functional responsibilities encompassing the National Security Policy. This is his second term in office. 

 

 

 

24 January 2019, 12:00AM

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