Office of the Director 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 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 Noellie Gay, I am an Epidemiologist – Project Coordinator at SPC. I specialize in epidemiology, including surveillance, research, preparedness, and response to infectious disease outbreak as well as One Health approaches for disease management. In the area of Epidemiology, I have about ten years of experience. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for different organizations such as Santé Public France, Pan American Health Organization, and recently the Institut Pasteur of New Caledonia as the Lead of the Epidemiology group. I obtain a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of La Réunion (France) and did various training in negotiation, management, and media training. I am a French national and currently based in Noumea, New Caledonia (SPC headquarters).

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.

My name is Cyrille Goarant and I am an Epidemiologist, project coordinator. I specialise in One Health and have 15 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for Institut Pasteur of New Caledonia as the Head of the leptospirosis and environmental bacteriology units. I was trained as a veterinary doctor in France and I obtained a PhD from University of French Polynesia. I am French and currently based in Noumea.

My name is Thibaut Demaneuf and I am the new Surveillance and Research officer. My area of expertise is in epidemiology and biostatistics, I have 4 years of experience in this field. Prior to joining SPC, I worked for the New Caledonian department of health as a biostatistician and digital health project officer. I obtained a master from the University of Melbourne in 2017. I am French and currently based in Noumea, New Caledonia.

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 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 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

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. 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.