PIANGO appoints new Executive Director

Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Emeline Siale Ilolahia as the new Executive Director.

Ms. Ilolahia will advance the passion and dedication that Emele Duituturaga had contributed to PIANGO for the past ten years. Siale is a long time Tongan civil society leader.

She joined PIANGO in April last year as the Deputy Executive Director.

Ms. Ilolahia’s appointment signaled a new dawn as she comes with more than 10 years of experience and a track record in promoting sustainable growth and social development in the region and a reputation for developing strong partnerships within the civil society sector and
exposure in regional and global advocacy.

In more recent years, PIANGO has focused on regional and global advocacy. Ms Ilolahia also brings to the position a unique combination of experiences working at the regional and country level.

She will lead PIANGO’s focus in strengthening the participatory leadership role of its membership network of National Liaison Units (NLUs) in 24 countries and territories throughout the Pacific.

PIANGO Board Chair Sarah Nededong said PIANGO is blessed to have such passionate and committed leader to the pacific.

“We are excited to have Ms. Ilolahia join the PIANGO regional Secretariat to strengthen our work with our members and civil society in the Islands,” Nededeong said.

Ms. Ilolahia is based in Suva at the PIANGO Secretariat headquarters and is now focused on leading the PIANGO towards the upcoming High Level Political Forum in New York, the 59th Pacific Islands Forum Meeting in Tuvalu and the PIANGO Council in April 2020.

Ms Ilolahia, holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of the South Pacific, Graduate Diploma in Non-For-Profit Management from Unitec, New Zealand, and Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Management from Massey University, New Zealand.