Pasifika Communities University (PCU) have announced the appointment of afioga Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago as the new Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships (NOKE). Leituala is from the families o Sā Toelupē, Sā Leaupepe-tēlē, Sā Lemalū, Sā Leitualā, Sā Tagō, Sā Faumuinā. She is a distinguished regional public servant and leader with nearly three decades of dedicated service across the Pacific.
She brings to PCU a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, public policy, and institutional strengthening, underpinned by a deep commitment to Pacific-led development and cultural integrity.
Leituala joins PCU following her tenure as Regional Director for the Oceania Regional Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), where she served from 2023 to 2025.
Prior to IUCN, she made history as the first Regional Director for Polynesia at the Pacific Community (SPC), leading the establishment of SPC’s first Polynesian Regional Office in Tonga.
As Director of SPC’s Social Development Programme (2015–2020), she provided strategic leadership across the region on gender equality, youth development, and cultural advancement for SPC’s 22 member countries and territories—championing culture as a central pillar of sustainable development.
From 2009 to 2015, Leituala served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) in the Government of Samoa, overseeing initiatives in gender equality, youth empowerment, child protection, disability inclusion, and village governance.
Earlier, as head of MWCSD’s Division for Women (2005–2009), she directed national policies and programmes advancing women’s leadership and community development through Samoa’s village women’s committees.
In keeping with the Samoan tradition of tautua (service), Leituala also serves as Chairperson of Onomea Productions, where she led the transformation of the Miss Samoa Platform (2023–2025) into a powerful cultural heritage initiative grounded in the indigenous philosophy “E lē o le fale, a o le anofale”—celebrating women’s empowerment and cultural continuity.
Leituala holds a Master of International Social Development from the University of New South Wales, a Bachelor of Social Work from Massey University, an Advanced Diploma in Business Management from the University of New England, and a Diploma of Government and Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from Victoria University. She is currently completing her PhD in Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University.
Carrying the matai chiefly title Leituala from Vaito’omuli, Palauli, Savai’i, she upholds her cultural heritage with pride and embodies the values of service, integrity, and collaboration that define Pacific leadership.
As Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships, Leituala will lead PCU’s research innovation and partnership strategies, advancing the University’s vision for Pacific-led scholarship, knowledge exchange, and impact-driven collaboration across the region and beyond.
Congratulations to afioga Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago on her latest achievement. Malo le faaeaea atunuu.
