46 Notable alumni of
University of the South Pacific
Updated:
The University of the South Pacific is 1772nd in the world, 35th in Oceania, and 1st in Fiji by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 46 notable alumni from the University of the South Pacific sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Baron Waqa
- Years
- 1959-.. (age 66)
- Occupations
- composerpolitician
- Biography
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Baron Divavesi Waqa is a Nauruan politician who currently serves as the secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum. He was the President of Nauru from 11 June 2013 until 27 August 2019. He previously served as Minister of Education from 2004 to 2007.
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Taneti Maamau
- Years
- 1960-.. (age 65)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Taneti Maamau is an I-Kiribati politician who has served as the fifth president of Kiribati since 2016. A member of the Tobwaan Kiribati Party, his policies are targeted at strengthening Kiribati's weak economy and alleviating social issues. His government announced the Kiribati Vision for 20 Years (KV20), which plans to develop the tourism and fishing industries with aid from foreign investors.
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Kausea Natano
- Years
- 1957-.. (age 68)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kausea Natano is a politician who served as the Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 19 September 2019 to 26 February 2024. He represented Funafuti as a Member of Parliament. He was first elected in the 2002 Tuvaluan general election and served as an MP until he was unseated in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election.
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ʻAkilisi Pohiva
- Years
- 1941-2019 (aged 78)
- Occupations
- teacherpolitician
- Biography
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Samiuela ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was a Tongan pro-democracy activist and politician. A key leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), he served as the Prime Minister of Tonga from 2014 to his death in 2019. He was only the fourth commoner to serve as Prime Minister (after Shirley Baker in the 1880s, Siosateki Tonga in the 1890s and Feleti Sevele in the 2000s), and the first commoner to be elected to that position by Parliament rather than appointed by the King.
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Hu'akavameiliku
- Years
- 1970-.. (age 55)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, styled Hon. Hu‘akavameiliku, is a Tongan politician who served as the Prime Minister of Tonga from 2021 until his resignation in 2024. He had previously served as a Cabinet Minister, and from 2014 to 2017, he was Deputy Prime Minister of Tonga. He is the current estate holder of the village of Ha'asini.
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David Vunagi
- Occupations
- priest
- Biography
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Sir David Okete Vuvuiri Vunagi, GCMG, is a retired Solomon Islands Anglican bishop who served as governor-general of Solomon Islands from 2019 to 2024. He was the archbishop of Melanesia and bishop of the Diocese of Central Melanesia from 2009 to 2015.
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Mark Brown
- Years
- 1963-.. (age 62)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Mark Stephen Brown is a Cook Islands politician and Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. He had previously served as Deputy Prime Minister under Henry Puna. He is a member of the Cook Islands Party.
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Nikenike Vurobaravu
- Years
- 1951-.. (age 74)
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Nikenike Vurobaravu is a Vanuatuan diplomat and politician who has served as President of Vanuatu since 23 July 2022. Previously having been employed in numerous diplomatic and government positions, including as the first resident High Commissioner to Fiji, he was elected as president during the eighth round of the 2022 Vanuatuan presidential election in July 2022. He is a member of the Vanua'aku Pati (VP) political party.
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Ludwig Scotty
- Years
- 1948-.. (age 77)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ludwig Derangadage Scotty is a Nauruan politician who twice served as President of Nauru and was Speaker of Parliament five times between 2000 and 2016. He served as president from 29 May 2003 to 8 August 2003 and again from 22 June 2004 until his ousting in a vote of no confidence on 19 December 2007. He was elected as president in 2003, again from November 2010 to April 2013, and from June 2013 to June 2016.
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Biman Prasad
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Biman Prasad is a Fijian politician and economist who has served as the leader of the National Federation Party since 2014, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance since 2022.
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Jeremiah Manele
- Years
- 1968-.. (age 57)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Jeremiah Manele is a Solomon Island politician serving as prime minister following the 2024 Solomon Islands general election. He is the first prime minister of the country to come from Isabel Province.
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Fatafehi Fakafānua, 8th Lord Fakafānua
- Years
- 1985-.. (age 40)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Fatafehi Fakafānua, known before ascending to his title as Fatafehi Kinikinilau Lolomana‘ia Fakafānua, is a Tongan politician, Lord of the Realm and the Speaker of the Tongan Legislative Assembly. He is the 8th Lord Fakafānua.
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Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
- Years
- 1951-2023 (aged 72)
- Occupations
- politiciancertified public accountant
- Biography
-
Pōhiva Tu’i’onetoa was a Tongan accountant and politician who served as the 17th prime minister of Tonga from 2019 to 2021. Tu'i'onetoa succeeded Semisi Sika, who had served as acting prime minister, since the death of ʻAkilisi Pōhiva.
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Teuea Toatu
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Teuea Toatu is an I-Kiribati politician who is the current vice president and minister for Finance & Economic Development in the Cabinet of Kiribati. He is 1 of 3 Members of the House of Assembly representing the constituency of Abaiang. He was appointed vice-president on 19 June 2019. He graduated with a BA in accounting and economics form the University of the South Pacific in 1980, and completed a certificate in computing at the University of East Anglia in 1984. He subsequently completed his MSc at the University of Strathclyde and his PhD at the Australian National University.
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Viliame Gavoka
- Years
- 1950-.. (age 75)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Viliame "Bill" Rogoibulu Gavoka is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. From 28 November 2020 to 2022 he was leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party, after ousting Sitiveni Rabuka in the SODELPA leadership contest.
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Simon Kofe
- Years
- 1984-.. (age 41)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Simon Kofe is a Tuvaluan politician. He was appointed as the Minister for Justice, Communication & Foreign Affairs, in the cabinet of Kausea Natano following the 2019 Tuvaluan general election.
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Abdulla Jihad
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Abdulla Jihad is a Maldivian politician who served as vice president of the Maldives from 22 June 2016 to 17 November 2018. Prior to his appointment on 22 June 2016, he served as the minister of finance.
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Teimumu Kepa
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa is a Fijian chief, former Member of the Parliament of Fiji, and former leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party. She was the first Fijian woman to serve as Leader of the Opposition. She previously held the position of Deputy Prime Minister in the Qarase-led Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) government from 2001 to 2006. As the paramount chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy, she holds the title Roko Tui Dreketi.
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Brij Lal
- Occupations
- historianpolitician
- Biography
-
Brij Vilash Lal AM, FAHA, OF was an Indo-Fijian historian who wrote about the Pacific region and the Indian indenture system. A harsh critic of the Bainimarama government, which originated in the military coup of 2006 and retained power in the 2014 elections, he lived in exile in Australia.
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Iolu Abil
- Years
- 1942-.. (age 83)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Iolu Johnson Abil is a Vanuatuan politician. He was elected and sworn in as the president of Vanuatu on 2 September 2009.
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Willy Telavi
- Years
- 1954-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Willy Telavi is a Tuvaluan politician who served as Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2010 to 2013.
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Joe Natuman
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 73)
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
-
Joe Natuman is a Vanuatuan politician of the Vanua'aku Pati and former Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
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Mahendra Reddy
- Born in
-
Fiji - Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
-
Dr. Mahendra Reddy is a Fijian politician and former Member of the Parliament of Fiji. He served as the Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment from 2017 to 2022.
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Rajesh Chandra
- Occupations
- geographer
- Biography
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Rajesh Chandra was a Fijian academic. In February 2005 he was appointed the first Vice-Chancellor of the newly founded University of Fiji. He served as Vice-Chancellor and President of The University of the South Pacific ending his term in December 2018. After his retirement, he was appointed the Chancellor of Fiji National University, holding office from April 2019 until January 2020 when he stepped down for medical reasons. He died on 16 November 2023 after a long illness.
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Grace Mera Molisa
- Years
- 1946-2002 (aged 56)
- Occupations
- writerpoliticianpoet
- Biography
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Grace Mera Molisa was a Ni-Vanuatu politician, poet and campaigner for women's equality in politics. The Australian described her as "a vanguard for Melanesian culture and a voice of the Vanuatuans, especially women". She has also been described as one of the Pacific's "leading public intellectuals and activists".
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Shaista Shameem
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
-
Shaista Shameem is a Fijian lawyer. She was the director of the Fiji Human Rights Commission from 2002 to 2007, and its director and chairperson from 2007 to 2009. A graduate of the University of the South Pacific, she holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Waikato and a Masters in Law from the University of Auckland. She also holds a Doctorate in Juridical Science.
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Shamima Ali
- Biography
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Shamima Ali is a Fijian political activist of Indian descent. As of July 2015, she is the Coordinator of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, a post she has held for many years. She has also been a member of the Fiji Human Rights Commission (FHRC).
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Paresh Narayan
- Occupations
- writereconomist
- Biography
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Paresh Kumar Narayan, is a Fijian-Australian academic of Fiji Indian origin. He was Australia's youngest Professor of Finance, and is now at Monash University.
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Aseri Radrodro
- Years
- 1972-.. (age 53)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Aseri Masivou Radrodro is a Fijian politician and Cabinet Minister. Since April 2024 he has been the Leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA).
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Dr. Gregory S. Stone
- Occupations
- oceanographer
- Biography
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Gregory Schofield Stone is an ocean scientist, explorer, and marine conservationist. He has published research on marine mammals in Antarctica, on ice ecology, and on New Zealand's Hector's dolphin. Stone is also an undersea technology and exploration specialist, particularly in his use of deep-sea submersibles, and has produced a series of marine conservation films.
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Tupou Draunidalo
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Roko Tupou Takaiwai Senirewa Draunidalo is a Fijian lawyer and politician. She is a former member of the Parliament of Fiji and from 2018 to 2022 was the president of the HOPE party.
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Kuini Speed
- Years
- 1949-2004 (aged 55)
- Occupations
- civil servantpolitician
- Biography
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Adi Kuini Teimumu Vuikaba Speed was a Fijian chief and politician, who served as Deputy Prime Minister from May 1999 to May 2000.
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Neil Sharma
- Years
- 1955-.. (age 70)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Dr. Neil Prakash Sharma is a former Fijian politician, who served as the Minister for Health in the interim Cabinet formed by Frank Bainimarama between 2009 and 2014.
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Jone Usamate
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Jone Usamate is a Fijian politician, who served as the Minister for Infrastructure and Meteorological Services from 2014 to 2022 and Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources from 2020 to 2022 in the Fijian government.
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Milner Tozaka
- Years
- 1951-.. (age 74)
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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George Milner Tozaka OBE, better known as Milner Tozaka, is a Solomon Islands diplomat and politician.
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Patteson Oti
- Years
- 1956-.. (age 69)
- Enrolled in the University of the South Pacific
- 1978-1982 graduated with bachelor's degree in political science
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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John Patteson Oti, sometimes called Patterson Oti, is a Solomon Islands politician and diplomat. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs, External Trade and Immigration from May 2006 to 22 December 2007. He is the secretary general of the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party ("Our Party"), which was launched in early 2010. Since March 2012, he has been his country's High Commissioner to Fiji.
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Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia
- Years
- 1954-.. (age 71)
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia is a Samoan diplomat. He was Samoa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
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‘Akosita Lavulavu
- Years
- 1984-.. (age 41)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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ʻAkosita Havili Lavulavu is a Tongan politician and former Cabinet Minister. In 2021 she was jailed for fraud.
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Sione Ngongo Kioa
- Years
- 1959-.. (age 66)
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomateconomist
- Biography
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Sione Ngongo Kioa is a Tongan diplomat and civil servant. From 2013 to 2022 he served as governor of National Reserve Bank of Tonga.
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Alice Pollard
- Years
- 20th Century
- Occupations
- politicianactivist
- Biography
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Dr. Alice Aruhe'eta Pollard is a women's rights and peace advocate from the Solomon Islands.
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Hala Hameed
- Years
- 1963-.. (age 62)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Hala Hameed is a Maldivian politician and diplomat who has been Secretary, Multilateral at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since August 2020.
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Sione Sangster Saulala
- Years
- 1974-.. (age 51)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Sione Sangster Saulala is a Tongan politician, broadcaster, and Cabinet Minister. He was a member of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands early in his political career.
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Douglas Ete
- Years
- 1964-.. (age 61)
- Occupations
- civil servantpolitician
- Biography
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Douglas Ete is a Solomon Islands politician.
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Afelee F. Pita
- Years
- 1958-.. (age 67)
- Occupations
- diplomat
- Biography
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Afelee Falema Pita is a Tuvaluan diplomat. He was Tuvalu's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 19 December 2006 to December 2012, and was also the ambassador to the United States.
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Sione Taione
- Years
- 1971-.. (age 54)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Percy Sione Havea Taione, more commonly known as Sione Taione, is a Tongan politician. He belongs to the Seventh Day Adventist Church and serves as an Elder for the Malapo Church in Tonga.
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Barina Waqa
- Years
- 20th Century
- Occupations
- civil servant
- Biography
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Barina Waqa is the Secretary for Multi-Cultural Affairs with the Department of Justice and Border Control in Nauru. She is Nauru's first female lawyer.
