A distinguished legal expert and former head of the Samoa International Finance Authority, To'oto'oleaava Dr. Fanaafi Aiono-Le Tagaloa, has been named the new Director of the University of the South Pacific's Samoa Campus.

To'oto'oleaava, who has returned from teaching law in New Zealand, told the Samoa Observer she considers the role as a home-coming. She began her three-year appointment at the beginning of March, replacing Dr. Joeli Veitayaki, who had run the campus since September 2019.

In an email, To'oto'oleaava said she considers it an honour and privilege to return to Samoa to serve her country and the region.

“It is an honour and a privilege to return to serve Samoa and the Pacific Region through the University of the South Pacific – Samoa Campus,” she said.

“Both my parents, Hon. Le Tagaloa Dr. Pitapola and Professor Aiono Dr. Fanaafi played key roles in the origins of the Campus at Alafua through its forerunner, the South Pacific Regional College of Tropical Agriculture [...]and the establishment of the University of the South Pacific some fifty plus years ago. 

“It is in this regard, for me, a home-coming.”

To'oto'oleaava has returned to Samoa from New Zealand where she taught law at the University of Waikato.

She was also the Auckland and Hamilton Regional Coordinator for the Association of Pasifika Staff in Tertiary Education last year.

The constitutional law expert was previously the Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa International Finance Authority, where she had also been the Manager of the Legal and Registration division, and a Legal Consultant. 

To'oto'oleaava has also worked for the Samoa Law and Justice Sector Secretariat, Le Iunivesite o le Amosa o Savavau (founded by her mother Aiono Fanaafi Le Tagaloa) and the University of Otago Faculty of Law. 

She said her new employer is an institution of “immense potential.

“[It] is a ready and willing partner to the various national universities across the region in the shared goal of “Strengthening Pacific Futures” through education and building the knowledge economy. 

“Life will always be full of challenges but as the saying goes, ‘O lo tatou Sa e Fautele – e Fautasi!’ Any great endeavour relies on teamwork and cooperation. 

“The challenges will not cease, but many hands make light work. We continue to do our best and trust the Lord to bless the work of our hands in our tautua (service) for Samoa and the Pacific.”

Samoa Campus, formerly Alafua Campus, is the heart of the regional university’s agriculture school. It was initially established in 1977, and today is home to around 300 students.