Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu of Tonga as High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States. She will succeed Gyan Chandra Acharya of Nepal. The Secretary-General is grateful to Mr. Acharya for his dedication and commitment to the United Nations.

Ms. ‘Utoikamanu brings with her a wealth of national, regional and international experience at various senior leadership levels, with a strategic perspective for the mandate of the OHRLLS and on building consensus among key stakeholders.  She is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Tourism, Tonga. 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.