Office of the Director Team
My Name is Berlin Kafoa, and I am the Director for the Public Health Division. I have over 20 years of experience in the health sector at a national, regional, and international level. Prior to my role as the director, I was the Team Leader for the Clinical Services Programme and previously employed with the Fiji National University’s College of Medicine as the Associate Dean for Regional Health Projects. I obtain a Master’s in public health from the Royal College of Physicians, UK. I am Fijian and currently based in Noumea.
My name is Sunia Soakai, and I am the Deputy Director for the Public Health Division. My area of expertise is in health systems, policy and planning and have more than 35 years of experience in this field. I have worked in the Pacific region and with international organisations. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the World Health Organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland as Human Resource Planner, I was the Secretary for Health and Medical Services in Nauru, and the Policy and Planning Adviser at the Ministry of Health Fiji. I have undergraduate qualifications Health Service Management from the University of South Australia and a Master’s in Business Administration, Centre for Health Planning and Management, Keele University, United Kingdom. I am a Tongan national currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Rumanusina Francine Maua and I am the Health Information System Adviser. I specialise in Human Resources, Health Management, Health Policy and Planning, Health Information and Health Systems and have more than 15 years years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the Ministry of Health, Samoa as Assistant Chief Executive Officer. I obtain a BA, Dip of Business, MHM. I am Samoan and currently based in Suva, Fiji
My name is Revite Kirition, and I am the Adviser Health Planning, Performance & Policy. I specialise in Public health, health management, m&e and have 16 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining spc, I worked for Kiribati Ministry of Health and FNU as the Director of Public Health and planning. I obtaib a Masters in Public Health and Masters in Health Management from the University of Auckland and University of New Castle, respectively. I am a Kiribati national and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Lalomilo Varea and I am the Monitoring and Evaluation Database Officer. I specialise in data management and have 5 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the National Tuberculosis Programme, as WHO SSA Data Officer. I obtain a Bachelor of Public Health from the Fiji National University. I am Fijian and currently based in Suva, Fiji
My Name is Evlyn Mani and I am the Communications and Information Officer. I specialise in strategic communications, public relations, information and media and have 15 years of working experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked with the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services. I obtain a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the South Pacific. I am Fijian and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is William Kunai and I am the Finance & Policy Officer. I specialise in financial management having 20 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the Ok Tedi Development Foundation as the Trust Investment Accountant. I obtained a Bachelor of Accountancy from the Papua New Guinea University of Technology. I am a Papua New Guinean and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Béryl Fulilagi and I am the Finance and Administration Officer. I specialise in Finance, administration, logistics and project management and have 12 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for an Independent Financial Advisers company as a Finance & Administrative Assistant. I obtain a BA in Business & Management. I am French and currently based in Noumea.
My Name is Timaleti Rokotavaga and I am the Division Finance and Administration Assistant. My area of work is in finance and administration and I have more than 10 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining the Public Health Division, I was with the Community Education Training Centre under the Education Division of SPC. I obtain a Diploma in Business Management from the University of the South Pacific. I am a Fijian and currently based in Suva office.
Ms Shivani Narayan, Finance and Administration Assistant, and provides admin support to the teams as well as assist with financial management.She has 4 years of experience working in project management, having worked at the Project Resource Centre, Fiji School of Medicine, prior to joining Public Health Division, SPC.
Surveillance, Preparedness and Response Team
My name is Amy Simpson and I am the Team Leader for Surveillance, Preparedness and Response. I specialise in Public Health and Clinical Research and have over 15 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for International SOS (Sydney) as the Senior Public Health Coordinator. I obtain a MIPH, B.Sc (Hons) . I am an Australian and currently based in Suva, Fiji
My name is Onofre Edwin Merilles Jr. (Jojo) and I am an Epidemiologist-Project Coordinator. I specialise in epidemiology capacity building and in grant management, and have more than 20 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked in various international organisations and agencies as M&E consultant and technical expert in epidemiology and programme management. I obtained my epidemiology qualifications from the Philippines Department of Health and from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I am a Philippine national and am based in Noumea, New Caledonia.
My name is Salanieta Saketa and I am the Senior Epidemiologist. I specialize in Public Health and Epidemiology. and have over 20 years working in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services both at operational and management level. I graduated with an MBBS degree from the Fiji School of Medicine in 1988, a Masters in Public Health from the Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine of the Hebrew University, Jerusalem in 1995 and an MBA degree from the University of the South Pacific in 2008. I am a Fijian and based out of the SPC Suva Office, Fiji.
My name is Jocelyn Cabarles and I am the Epidemiologist. I specialise in Epidemiology Monitoring and Evaluation Project Management Capacity Building and have more than 25 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for World Vision International as the Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor for TB Program. I obtain a BS Psychology Doctor of Medicine Public Health Specialist in Applied Epidemiology (FETP Philippines). I am a Filipino and currently based in Noumea.
My name is Elise Benyon and I am the Data Processing Officer and a PPHSN Focal Point. I specialise in Administration and logistics and have over 36 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for WS Tait Import/Export as an Admin and account officer. I am French and currently based in Noumea.
My name is Christelle Lepers and I am the Surveillance Information and Communication Officer. I specialise in Strategic & Risk Communication, Community Engagement, Public Health Surveillance & Data visualization and have over 20 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for Vanuatu National Institute of Technology (INTV) as the Communication Teacher. I obtain a Baccalaureat Technological - medico-. I am French and currently based in Noumea.
Mr Shakti Gounder, Surveillance and Research Officer, is from Fiji. He holds a Master of Public Health from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia and brings in extensive communicable disease surveillance experience. While in Fiji, he worked as Communicable Disease Surveillance Officer and Public Health Officer for Tuberculosis. More recently he worked in Melbourne as HIV Surveillance Officer.
My name is Margaret Leong and I am the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Advisor. I specialise in Infection Prevention and Control and have over 10 years of experience in this field with 10 years’ experience in Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Management and in senior nursing roles within the Ministry of Health. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services as the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer. I am Fijian and currently based in Fiji.
My name is Sonny Magboo and I am the Epidemiologist and Project Coordinator for the AU DFAT Pacific Evidence Informed Policies and Program (Pac-EVIPP) project. I specialise in Public health, M&E, capacity building, project management / operations and have 26 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for USAID as the Senior Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning Advisor. I obtain a BSc. Zoology, MD, FETP-Applied Epidemiology. I am Filipino and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Louise Fonua and I am an Epidemiologist in training. I specialise in Public Health, Epidemiology, HIV, STIs and Sexual Health and have over 15 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked as a Public Health Specialist and as the Head of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance. I obtain a MBBS, MIPH, MMED, MPHIL. I am Tongan and currently based in Fiji.
My name is Christine Bury and I am the Data Processing Technician. I specialise in Executive and Project Assistant and have 15 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked in Noumea as an Executive Assistant. I obtain a Bachelor of Business. I am French and currently based in Noumea.
My Name is Eka Buadromo and I am the Teal Leader for Laboratory Strengthening Program. I specialise in clinical pathology and diagnostic medicine with 20 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked registrar and pathology specialist at the CWM hospital in Fiji, Vaiola Hospital in Tonga and Locum Pathologist Western Samoa. I obtain an MBSS from the University of the South Pacific, PostGraduate Diploma in Clinical pathology, University of Otago and a Masters Business Administration, University of the South Pacific. I am Fijian and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Tebuka Toatu and I am the PPHSN LabNet Coordinator. I specialise in Microbiology and Cytology and have more than 10 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for Ministry of Health & Medical Services in Kiribati as the Director of Laboratory Services. I obtain a Master of Science in Medicine from the University of Sydney. I am an I-Kiribati and currently based in Suva.
My name is Vijesh Lal is and I am the Laboratory Specialist. I specialise in Laboratory work and have 18 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for Oceania Society for Sexual Health and HIV Medicine as the HIV/STI Laboratory Coordinator. I obtain a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Service Management from Fiji National University. I am a Fijian and currently based in Suva.
My name is Talica Cabemaiwai and I am the Monitoring Evaluation Lab officer. I am a lab scientist for about 26 years and have an experience in infectious disease testing, laboratory quality management system, and was the Laboratory Manager at the Fiji Centre for Disease Control. I obtained a Master of Laboratory Medicine from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia . I am of Fiji nationality and based in the Public health division, Suva
Non Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Programme
My name is Si Thu Win Tin and I am the Team Leader for the NCD Programme. I specialise in Medicine, Public Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology, Health Research and have over 15 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for World Vision International & Aide Medicale Internationale as the Public Health Physician. I obtain a MBBS, MPH, PhD from The University of Sydney. I am an Australian and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
Ms Elisiva Na’ati, is the NCD adviser, public health nutrition. She is a NZ registered dietitian with years of experience in clinical dietetics and diabetes while working with Ministry of Health in Tonga.
My name is Solène Bertrand-Protat and I am the NCD adviser for French-speaking SPC members. I specialise in nutrition and health promotion, having 20 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for The Ministry of Health in French Polynesia as the head of the lifestyle related-diseases unit. I was awarded a dietetic diploma and a Master’s degree in health promotion. I am a French citizen and am currently based in Noumea, New Caledonia.
My name is Ilisapeci Kubuabola and I am the NCD Adviser for Monitoring, Evaluation and Surveillance. I specialise in Medicine, Public Health, PH Research, Epidemiology and have 17 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for Fiji National University (School of Public Health & Pacific Research Center for NCD) as the Senior Lecturer, Epidemiology. I obtain a BSc, DipPHC, MBBS, PGCTT, MAppEpi. I am Fijian and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Amerita Ravuvu and I am the NCD Adviser for Policy and Planning. I specialise in Strategic Policy and Planning, Project Management, Development, Food Trade, Qualitative Research and have 14 years of experience in these fields. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for Pacific Research Center for the Prevention of Obesity and NCDs (C-POND), College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, FNU as a Research Fellow. I obtain a BA Human Geog, Master Development Studies (MADS), PhD Development Geography. I am Fijian and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Selai Lewanitoga Nasiga and I am the Legislative Drafting Consultant based. I specialise in legislation drafting having 19 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the Fiji Office of the Attorney General, Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority, Republic of Nauru Department of Justice and Legal Consultant doing projects for UNDP, FAO and OCO. I obtained a Bachelor of Law Degree and Masters International Affairs and Diplomacy from University of the South Pacific. I am a Fijian and currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Silina Motofaga and I am the Team Leader for the Clinical Service programme with a medical background in paediatrics and has had at least 20 years of experience in this area, RMNCAH reproductive maternal newborn child and adolescent health, sexual reproductive health and public health programme management. I have worked in Kiribati, Nauru and Tonga, and provide leadership and clinical services technical oversight to the programme and member countries.
My name is Silina Rokodrawe Waqa and I am the Nursing Adviser. I specialise in nursing leadership with around 25 years in this field at from middle-level Nursing Management/Leadership, Senior and Executive levels. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the Ministry of Health & Medical Service as Chief Nurse & Midwifery Officer (Fiji). I obtain a Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Sydney, a post graduate Diploma in Health Sciences for the University of Auckland and a Professional Diploma in Business Leadership from the University of the South Pacific. I am Fijian and am currently based in Suva, Fiji.
My name is Lamour Hansell and I am a Clinical Advisor and Programme Coordinator. I specialise in Anaesthesia/ICU and have over 15 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked in the Cook Islands as an Anaesthesia Specialist. I obtain a MMEDAN, PGDipAN, MBBS. I am Samoan and currently based in Fiji.