16 May 2019 Suva, Fiji – Last week, the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO) elected the new PIPSO board for the 2019-2021 period, at its 12th Annual General Meeting held at the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation office in Suva, Fiji.
Attended by representatives from Vanuatu, Nauru, Niue, New Caledonia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Tonga, Australia and Samoa, the AGM provided the platform for members to update themselves on the activities and work of the regional private sector organsiation since 2017, when the last AGM was held.
Following procedural matters of the AGM, the members were given the opportunity to decide on a pre-nominated list of members for the incoming Board, which had been presided over by a Nominating Committee that comprised Hafiz Khan (Fiji), Alise Stunnenberg (Samoa) and Kenneth Uyehara (Palau).
Stephen Lyon, Immediate Past President of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce was elected as the Incoming Chair. Stephen has also been a PIPSO Board member since 2016.
President for the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Head of Finance for Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Samoa, Jennifer Ula-Fruean replaces Klaus Stunzner on the PIPSO board as Samoa’s representative.
The President of Samoa’s Chamber of Commerce will bring her years of finance, insurance and banking experience to the PIPSO Board.
Other board members include Harvie Probert of Fiji, Martin Tofiga of Kiribati, Aloma Johansson of Tonga, Tom Bayer of Vanuatu and Mark Stege of Marshall Islands.
PIPSO welcomes the new Board and looks forward to working with them on promoting and inspiring the growth of Pacific businesses.
Regional Representatives of Pacific’s Private Sector:
Stephen Lyon – Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Mr. Lyon was President of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce for three years and was a PIPSO Board member since 2016. He resides in the Cook Islands and owns Pacific Divers.
Harvie Probert – Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF) – Mr. Probert ran his family business – Fiji Gas for over 30 years and now sits as a Board Director. He is also a Board Director with FCEF and a Director at Fiji Chemicals.
Martin Tofiga, Kiribati Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) – Mr. Tofiga is a Past president of the Kiribati Chamber of Commerce and is currently a Board member. He is the Managing Director of Mauri Konsult.
Jennifer Fruean – Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) – Mrs. Fruean is the recently elected President of the Samoa Chamber of Commerce and was a former President of the Samoa National Youth Council. She is currently the Head of Finance for Bank of the South Pacific (BSP) in Samoa.
Aloma Johansson – Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Mrs Johansson was the Vice Chair of the outgoing PIPSO Board and is the Deputy Chair/Pro Chancellor for the University of the South Pacific Council. She is also a Proprietor, practicing Accountant and Business Consultant.
Tom Bayer – Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) – Mr. Bayer has been a Board member of the PIPSO since 2016 and Past President of VCCI. He is the Chair of the Bayer Group of Companies.
Mark Stege – Majuro Chamber of Commerce/Marshall Islands Chamber of Commerce – Mark is a Director with MarTina Corporation, and is also the Chief Research Advisor with the Marshall Islands Conservation Society.
The Immediate Past President Mr Howard Politini and PIPSO CEO Alisi Tuqa are the Ex-Officio Members of the Board.
Incoming Chair, Stephen Lyon thanked the services and contributions of the outgoing Board Members, with special mention going to Immediate Past President Howard Politini, and Past President Klaus Stunzner (of Samoa).
Group shot of PIPSO members at the 12th PIPSO Annual General Meeting (8 May 2019)
