9 Sept 2020, Press Secretariat. Cabinet has up-held the selection panel’s recommendation to appoint Afioga Lematua Gisa Fuatai Purcell as the Chief Executive Officer to lead the Office of the Regulator for the next three years.
Lematua is currently based in London where she is the Acting Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisations (CTO).
Lematua has over 30 years experience in telecommunication and information and communication technology (ICT) development at the national, regional and international level.
At the CTO she has led the implementation of transformational decisions including revamping the key performance indicators for staff performance evaluation and developing the strategic plan for 2020-2024.
Under her leadership and guidance, Lematua won 2 tribunal cases against the CTO in April 2019.
Cabinet has appointed her over four other applicants who had been shortlisted and interviewed.
“At the conclusion of the due diligence review process and interviews, the panel of three unanimously recommended Lematua as the most qualified and experienced candidate for the job”.
Lematua holds a Masters in Commerce and Administration from the Victoria University of Wellington New Zealand (2003) complemented by a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Systems Management from the same University”.
A 1973 graduate of Samoa College, Lematua held senior positions within Samoa’s Ministry of Communication, Information and Technology before she was posted abroad.
For six years (2003-2009) she served as the National ICT Sector Committee Secretary and Assistant CEO within MCIT.
Lematua’s extensive international experience over the past 11 years, includes the following top management level posts:
- (2009-2016); Head of Division/Project Manager-International Telecommunication Organization, ITU Geneva Switzerland
- (2016-2018): Regional Adviser, South Pacific, Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization, London United Kingdom
- (2018-present) Director, ICT Development-Commonwealth Telecommunication Organization, London United Kingdom
- (2018-present) Acting Secretary General of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organizations, (CTO) London United Kingdom.
Lematua is scheduled to take up her new role as Samoa’s Regulator in October or late November, depending on the availability of flights for her return to Samoa.
Lematua is married to Samoa’s Minister of Commerce, Industry and Labor, Hon. Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell.
