44 Notable alumni of
University of the South Pacific
Updated:
The University of the South Pacific is 1813th in the world, 35th in Oceania, and 1st in Fiji by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 44 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 65)
- Occupations
- politiciancomposer
- Biography
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Baron Divavesi Waqa is a Nauruan politician who was 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 64)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Taneti Maamau is an I-Kiribati politician who has served as the sixth president of Kiribati since 11 March 2016.
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ʻAkilisi Pohiva
- Years
- 1941-2019 (aged 78)
- Occupations
- politicianteacher
- Biography
-
Samiuela ʻAkilisi Pōhiva was a Tongan pro-democracy activist and politician. Pohiva, the leader of the Democratic Party of the Friendly Islands (DPFI), 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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Kausea Natano
- Years
- 1957-.. (age 67)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Kausea Natano is a politician who has served as the prime minister of Tuvalu since 19 September 2019. 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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Hu'akavameiliku
- Years
- 1970-.. (age 54)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Siaosi ‘Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni, styled Hon. Hu'akavameiliku, is a Tongan politician who has served as the Prime Minister of Tonga since 2021. He has 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,, is a retired Solomon Islands Anglican bishop and incumbent governor-general of Solomon Islands. 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 61)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
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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Ludwig Scotty
- Years
- 1948-.. (age 76)
- 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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Nikenike Vurobaravu
- Years
- 1951-.. (age 73)
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
-
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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Pohiva Tuʻiʻonetoa
- Years
- 1951-2023 (aged 72)
- Occupations
- certified public accountantpolitician
- 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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Fatafehi Fakafānua, 8th Lord Fakafānua
- Years
- 1985-.. (age 39)
- 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 Fakafānua.
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Biman Prasad
- Occupations
- economistpolitician
- Biography
-
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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Simon Kofe
- Years
- 1984-.. (age 40)
- 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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Brij Lal
- Occupations
- politicianhistorian
- Biography
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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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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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Viliame Gavoka
- Years
- 1950-.. (age 74)
- 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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Iolu Abil
- Years
- 1942-.. (age 82)
- 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 70)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
Willy Telavi is a Tuvaluan politician who was Prime Minister of Tuvalu from 2010 to 2013.
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Teuea Toatu
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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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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Mahendra Reddy
- Born in
-
Fiji - Occupations
- economistpolitician
- 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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Joe Natuman
- Years
- 1952-.. (age 72)
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
-
Joe Natuman is a Vanuatuan politician of the Vanua'aku Pati and former Prime Minister of Vanuatu.
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Rajesh Chandra
- Occupations
- geographer
- Biography
-
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 as 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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Shaista Shameem
- Occupations
- lawyer
- Biography
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Shaista Shameem, a Fijian lawyer, 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
-
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
- economistwriter
- Biography
-
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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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
- politicianlawyer
- Biography
-
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
- politiciancivil servant
- Biography
-
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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Jone Usamate
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
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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Neil Sharma
- Years
- 1955-.. (age 69)
- 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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Jeremiah Manele
- Years
- 1968-.. (age 56)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Jeremiah Manele was the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs and External Trade in Solomon Islands until December 2007. He was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Hograno/Kia/Havulei constituency in the 2019 general election. He has become Minister of Foreign Affairs since 26 April 2019.
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Milner Tozaka
- Years
- 1951-.. (age 73)
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- 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 68)
- Enrolled in the University of the South Pacific
- 1978-1982 graduated with bachelor's degree in political science
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- 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 70)
- Occupations
- politiciandiplomat
- Biography
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Ali'ioaiga Feturi Elisaia is a Samoan diplomat. He is Samoa's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
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‘Akosita Lavulavu
- Years
- 1984-.. (age 40)
- 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 65)
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianeconomist
- 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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Hala Hameed
- Years
- 1963-.. (age 61)
- 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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Alice Pollard
- Years
- 20th Century
- Occupations
- activistpolitician
- 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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Douglas Ete
- Years
- 1964-.. (age 60)
- Occupations
- politiciancivil servant
- Biography
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Douglas Ete is a Solomon Islands politician.
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Sione Sangster Saulala
- Years
- 1974-.. (age 50)
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
-
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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Tilali Scanlan
- Years
- 1999-.. (age 25)
- Enrolled in the University of the South Pacific
- Studied oceanology and marine biology
- Occupations
- judokaswimmer
- Biography
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Tilali Rose Leslie Scanlan is an American Samoan swimmer. She competed in the women's 100 metre breaststroke at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
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Afelee F. Pita
- Years
- 1958-.. (age 66)
- 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. He also was the ambassador to the United States.
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Sione Taione
- Years
- 1971-.. (age 53)
- 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.
