Neelta Goundar is a dynamic human resources leader with over 15 years of experience spanning higher education, international development, and the private sector. Her work has focused on driving strategic HR transformation, fostering inclusive workplaces, and strengthening institutional governance across the Pacific.

She currently serves as the Human Resources Business Partners – Transformation at the University of the South Pacific, where she leads major change initiatives across 12 members countries. Her work includes implementing cross-functional HR models, launching digital systems, and advising senior leadership on workforce strategy and policy reform. Neelta has also held senior roles with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Asaleo Care, and contributed to community development through her early work with the Fiji Council of Social Services.

Neelta holds a Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Sydney, and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology and Management from the University of the South Pacific. She is an alumna of WLI’s Women’s Developmental Leadership Program and a founding member of the Fiji Psychological Society. Neelta hope to inspire more women leaders to join the senior executive in any organisation and to encourage young girls to “dream big”.

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Ezethanie Tofilau is a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture and inclusive development in Samoa. With over a decade of experience in land management, investment, and public service, she has worked to strengthen agricultural systems and create opportunities for women and young people to thrive.

She currently serves as the Principal Leases & Investment Officer at the Samoa Trust Estates Corporation, where she supports land-based development initiatives and promotes agribusiness opportunities. Ezethanie is particularly focused on empowering women to participate in the growing number of small-scale agricultural projects across Samoa, helping them build stronger livelihoods and more resilient communities.

Ezethanie holds a Master of Agribusiness from the University of Queensland and Bachelor of Arts in Land Management from the University of the South Pacific. She is an alumna of WLI’s Women’s Developmental Leadership Program and an active member of several regional networks. Her goal is to develop her leadership skills to support women and youth in agriculture, ensuring they have the tools and confidence to lead change in their communities.

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Teitinrerei Bobo is a dedicated education professional and emerging leader in Kiribati’s public service. With a strong background in school leadership and government administration, she brings a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the education sector.

Teitinrerei currently serves as the Teacher English Language Proficiency Assessment (TELPA) Administrator at the Kiribati Teachers College under the Ministry of Education, where she leads coordination between schools, teacher registration offices, and national education bodies. She has previously held roles as Deputy Principal at multiple Junior Secondary Schools in South-Tarawa, and served as Acting Assistant Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Public Service Office. Her experience spans school administration, policy development, stakeholder engagement, and public sector reform.

She holds a Master of Governance and Public Policy from the University of Queensland and a Bachelor of Arts with a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific. Teitinrerei is also an active contributor to leadership and advocacy programs in Kiribati.

Teitinrerei hopes to drive change in Kiribati’s education sector by strengthening communication and collaboration between the Ministry of Education, teachers, parents and the wider community.

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Profile information coming soon...

Elizabeth Bakri Dumu is an accomplished IT and Governance professional with over 20 years of experience in banking, retail, and research. She specialises in IT Governance, Risk & Compliance, Systems and Business Analysis, and Role-Based Access Control. After a long tenure at Bank South Pacific, she now serves as Head of Governance/ Business Analyst at the Brian Bell Group, where she leads IT risk management, policy development, and strategic reporting.

Her diverse experience shaped her belief in IT as a powerful business enabler and leadership as an adaptive, evolving process. Over the years, Elizabeth has led major transformation projects, developed governance frameworks, and implemented access control systems across large organisations. She brings a system-thinking approach to problem-solving, combining people, processes, and technology to drive operational improvements. At Brian Bell Group, she also mentors graduate trainees and engages in community outreach through the Brian Bell Foundation.

Elizabeth holds a Master of Business Information Systems from the Australian National University and is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Social Science at Curtin University, with a growing interest in Digital Anthropology and its intersection with technology and society. She is an active member mentor, public speaker, and member of professional bodies including ISACA PNG, Toastmasters International, and PNGAAA.

Tracey Falemanu Tupou is a passionate advocate for gender equality, disability rights, and inclusive social development in Tonga. With over a decade of experience across government, international development, and civil society, she has led initiatives addressing gender-based violence, improving access for people with disabilities, and promoting rights for marginalised groups.

She currently serves as the GEDSI Adviser for the Tongan Australia Support Platform (TASP), providing strategic guidance to integrate GEDSI priorities across programs. Her work involves close collaboration with civil society and government partners to develop inclusive policies and build capacity.

Tracey has held key roles with UN Women, the Pacific Labour Facility, and the Australian High Commission, where she managed gender programs and served as DFAT's Gender Focal Point. She holds a Master of Governance and Public Policy from the University of Queensland, and a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University. Her goal is to ensure that women and men, girls and boys in all their diversity have equal access to economic, social and political opportunities and benefits.

Jiupili Ralulu Simmons is an accomplished educator, dedicated community leader, and proud mother of three, deeply rooted in her heritage from Namalata, Kabulau, Bua. She currently serves as a Learning Specialist at the University of the South Pacific's (USP) Laucala Campus, where she supports student success and academic development.

Her background includes high school teaching, learning support, and community engagement. As Acting Head of Languages at Labasa Sangam (SKM) College (2013 - 2017), she helped implement English and Fijian syllabi. She also played a key role in establishing USP's first student Learning Department at Labasa Campus, offering mentorship and academic support.

Jiupili holds a Master of Arts in TESOL from Western Sydney University and is passionate about literacy, women in leadership, and collaborative learning. She actively participates in leadership programs, Australia Awards Fiji Alumni events, and PGFA committees at her children's schools. She also contributes to her local church through community work and Sunday School ministry.

Driven by a commitment to educational access and empowerment, Jiupili aims to support soother transitions for high school students into tertiary education and extend outreach to indigenous communities, inspiring young people and women to pursue higher education.

Dorothy Jolly holds a Master of Information Technology from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Prior to her studies, she served years in the Information and Community Technology (ICT) Division of Papua New Guinea's National Department of Education. In her new role, as a software platform specialist, she is passionate about driving digital transformation through cloud technologies.

Dorothy has contributed to various Leadership Fund initiatives as an alumna of the Women's Developmental Leadership Program. These include installing rainwater catchment systems for three rural elementary schools in Eastern Highlands Province, supporting youth and women in a mushroom farming project, and collaborating with the Provincial Civil Registry team to issue over a thousand birth certificates to a community affected by tribal conflict.

She encourages fellow WLI alumni to take advantage of the program's offerings, not only to grow their leadership and career skills but also to make a meaningful impact in their community.

Mary Konobo is committed to advancing developmental leadership to strengthen Papua New Guinea's disaster risk reduction and management performance. With nearly a decade of experience in complex settings, she has addressed critical challenges in climate change, environmental sustainability, disaster resilience, and sustainable development.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Papua New Guinea and a Graduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) from the University of Newcastle, co-certified by UNITAR. She is currently on leave from her Master's program in Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development at the University of Newcastle.

Currently, Mary serves as an Advisor (Senior Environmental Specialist) for Australia's AU$55 million bilateral investments in gender equality in PNG, providing strategic and technical support to integrate climate change and DRR in line with national and Australian climate policies. Her previous work with UNDP PNG included managing projects on Climate-Induced Conflicts and Disaster Risk Management in conflict-prone provinces. She also supported senior decision-makers across government, development, and humanitarian sectors through the interagency Disaster Management Team - enhancing coordination, preparedness, response, and humanitarian standards for both natural and human-induced disasters.

Della Siomia Savaiinaea is an experienced environmental and social safeguards specialist with over a decade of experience at Samoa's Planning and Urban Management Agency (PUMA). As the Assistant Chief Executive Officer, she leads national efforts to promote inclusive, resilient and sustainable development through evidence-based planning, Development Consent and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Withexpertise in planning, Geographic Information Systems, regulatory frameworksand urban governance, Della brings both technical depth and strategicleadership to her role. She is one of Samoa’s two WLI Alumni Representatives,where she advocates for alumni needs, coordinates leadership and networkingactivities, and fosters regional collaboration.

Della is committed to empowering communities and women leaders in decision-making,strengthening environmental and social governance, and guiding sustainable urbanisation that reflects both national priorities and local aspirations.

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