Tonga tourism hosted a farewell reception this afternoon in honour of outgoing CEO Fekita ʻUtoikamanu, who was recently appointed as UN’s new High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.
The reception was attended by Tourism Minister Semisi Sika along with other senior officials of the ministry.
Members of tourism stakeholders and businesses also attended.
The three-year term of ʻUtoikamanu comes to an end today, just three months after she began working for the Ministry on January 3, 2017.
‘Utoikamanu of Kolomotu’a began her civil service career in 1983.
She was previously Acting Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council of the University of the South Pacific (2015); Deputy Pro-Chancellor and Deputy Chair of the Council of the University of the South Pacific (2009-2016); Deputy Director General and Director of Education, Training and Human Development of the Secretariat of Pacific Community (2009-2015); Permanent Representative and Ambassador of the Government of Tonga to the United Nations, United States of America, Cuba and Venezuela and High Commissioner to Canada (2005-2009); and Secretary for Foreign Affairs and European Commission’s National Authorizing Officer for Tonga (2002-2005).
Born in 1959, Ms. ‘Utoikamanu holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics (1980), and a Masters in Commerce in Economics (1983) from the University of Auckland in New Zealand.
