Highlights:

Skills:economics, geospacial, finance, microsoft, Strategic Planning, Budget Development/Management, Policy Formulation, Project Management, GIS analysis, Procurement

Advisor to the IMF Executive Director, Asia and Pacific 08/2019 - 06/2022
International Monetary Fund, Washington, District of Columbia United States
Industry: Finance
Assistance to the ED with work relating both to the Board and to the more general interests of the members of the constituency; ? Analyzing and preparing briefing and draft statements on the various papers produced by the staff for the Board; ? Representing the ED at Board meetings as required, and preparing brief reports to capitals as necessary; ? Reading and reviewing the working and research papers prepared by staff, with a view to drawing work to the attention of member countries where it would be of interest to them; and
Advocacy/Communication: Represented interests of Pacific Islands on International Monetary Fund (IMF) Board; detailed macroeconomic challenges faced by small island states in Pacific, including impact of climate change. Represented ED office on Tuvalu, FSM and Palau AIV missions, and learned of their experiences in pursuing PFM reforms at various levels. ? Climate Change/Risk Mitigation: Advocated for climate change policy, a macroeconomic risk impacting small island states; influenced the IMF Resilience and Sustainability Trust designed to address macro-critical risks like climate change. ? Auditor Analysis/Economic Development: Instrumental in informing/impacting Internal Auditor analysis views of IMF's performance based on its relationship with small island states; Internal Auditor clearly articulated deficiencies by IMF. ? Fiscal Policy/COVID-19 Response: Shared detailed analysis of technical staff reports with Executive Director (ED), including position statements on economic and financial performance of multiple member countries, plus impact of policy during and emerging out of COVID-19 pandemic; ED efficiently contributed to policy discussion on managing and responding.--
Secretary of Finance 10/2017 - 08/2019
Government of Tuvalu, Funafuti, Tuvalu
Industry: Public Administration
Accountable to the Minister of Finance, and the Public Service Commission for the efficient and effective overall operation and management of the Ministry. ? Provision of support to the Minister in the performance of financial duties outlined in the Public Finance Act; ? Ensuring effective maintenance of the government’s Public Financial Management systems; ? General management and supervision of all financial operations of the Government; and ? Updating and formulation of prudent financial policies, standards, and procedures. ? Ensure fiscal sustainability through.
? Strategic Planning/Evaluation: Consolidated and prioritized outstanding recommendations from audit reports and policy advice from various sources into Public Financial Management (PFM) roadmap; guided departmental operational workplans; served as crucial strategic planning tool for monitoring and evaluation. ? Process Re-engineering/Public Finance Management: Re-engineered process of compiling Whole of Government Financial Statements; ensured compliance with legislation; in 2 years, Treasury produced complete Talavai Iona – Resume 2 set of financial statements to Auditor General within legal timeframe; addressed 90% of previous years' outstanding management issues. ? Accounting/Accruals: Led amendments to financial accounts preparation from full accrual to elementary accrual, aligned with available capacity; Treasury met most elementary accrual accounting requirements. ? Procurement/Bidding Strategy: Reviewed public procurement processes, incorporating 'value for money' and 'abnormally low bid' concepts; based awards on highest quality, not lowest bid. ? Capital Budgeting/Funding: Introduced multi-year capital budgeting, empowering roll-over funds for infrastructure projects to next financial year; improved transparency and yielded more room for procurement process observation and upgraded certainty in infrastructure project funding, formerly authorized annually. ? Donor Relations/Funding: Successfully coordinated Tuvalu's membership application to International Financial Corporation (IFC) and Ministry of Finance's accreditation to Adaptation Fund (AF); created financial resource access from IFC and AF. ? Contract Management/Subject Matter Experts: Restructured former Planning, Budget, and Aid coordination department, incorporating contract management functionality and delivered through designated sector specialists; tailored advice to line ministries on planning, budgeting, aid coordination, and contract management. ? Negotiation/Donor Contribution Expansion: Led negotiation of annual budget support, ~$20 million or 30% of budget, and infrastructure projects, ~$100 million capital budget annually funded by Australia, New Zealand, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, European Union, and Japan; increased donor funds availability, supporting annual budget, plus infrastructure projects, including outer island boat harbors, international airfield, and airport, water and sanitation, and waste management.--
Secretary For Education, Youth and Sports 02/2014 - 10/2017
Government of Tuvalu, Funafuti, Tuvalu
Industry: Public Administration
Accountable to the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, and the Public Service Commission for the efficient and effective overall operation and management of the Ministry
Introduction of Child Protection Policy in schools ? Amending the Education Act to remove corporal punishment in schools ? Successfully led the negotiation of financial assistance from DFAT for the Nauti Classroom ($4 million) and the Education 5 Year Improvement Programme ($5 million) ? Initiated the restructuring of all departments to reflect the increased demand on services--
Director Public Enterprises Review and Monitoring Unit 01/2013 - 02/2014
Government of Tuvalu, Funafuti, Tuvalu
Industry: Public Administration
? analysis, advice and information concerning the performance of any Public Enterprise and compliance with the Act by any Public Enterprise or person; ? advice to shareholding Ministers on expenditure, advances, credit support, and guarantees to be made, sought or provided in relation to a Public Enterprise: ? financial, commercial and public policy analysis and advice in relation to Public Enterprises and in relation to corporatization and/or privatization of Public Enterprises;
? Public Enterprise Management/Financials: Improved reporting compliance of Public Enterprise (PEs) with PE Act requirements; submitted annual plans, budgets, and financial statements on time, leading to improved overall performance of public enterprises. ? Energy Tariff Structure: Reviewed tariff rate structure of energy prices; recommended changes to government subsidy, set at adjustable level that changes with import price; ensuring systematic price paid by customers and remained stable at government-set level. ? Subsidy Funded Service Management: Formalized community service obligation (CSO) calculations paid by government, reducing unprofitable services delivered by public enterp--
Financial Management Specialist 08/2009 - 12/2012
Government of Tuvalu, Funafuti, Tuvalu
Industry: Public Administration
? Development and implementation of capacity development capacity development programmes to increase the participation of island-based communities in planning and budgeting through sensitization of local governments and increased empowerment of communities; ? Provision of technical policy support and advice to MHARD and local governments in planning, budgeting and other financial management matters;
? Capacity Building/Community Involvement: Developed and delivered capacity programmes; increased participation of island-based communities in planning and budgeting through sensitization of local governments; expanded empowerment of communities; improved understanding by island communities of planning and budgeting processes; increased community member attendance; contributed to discussions of strategic plans and budget discussions. ? Trusted Advisor/Financial Policy: Provided technical policy support and advice to state and local governments on planning, budgeting, and financial management; increased understanding of financial management. ? Automation/Financial Reports: Developed Excel-based templates for financial reporting, transitioning from handwritten templates; empowered timely provision of financial reports and tracking of errors. ? Project Management/Development: Led drafting of 'Outer islands project management policy', guiding island communities in formulating and implementing development projects; targeted project proposals at high priority issues and implemented with timely use of resources. ? Grants Negotiation: Reviewed and provided recommendations for increased grants from central to local governments; increased total annual grants to local governments by $80k. ? Procurement/Policy: Developed in-house procurement policy so all procurements by local governments adhered to transparent processes, ensuring quality and value for money spent.--
Board Secretary 05/2004 - 08/2009
Tuvalu Trust Fund, Funafuti, Tuvalu
Industry: Finance
? Provision of secretarial tasks to the Boards of the above Funds and assist the Chairmen of the above Boards with the overall administration and management of the Funds’ activities; ? Monitoring and reporting on the flow of the Funds’ funding and assistance; ? Preparation of annual accounts and organizing for the annual audits; ? Preparation of Annual Reports for Parliament
? Financial Investment Management: Instrumental in setting up Falekaupule Trust Fund (FTF) Reserve Account providing financial support to communities when no dividends received from principal capital. ? Investment Strategy: Provided support to Minster of Finance in explaining various investment vehicles that could support investment strategy of the Tuvalu Trust (TTF) and FTF; produced performances in line with similarly structured funds internationally. ? Budget formulation: Member o--
Economic Advisor 10/2002 - 04/2004
Government of Tuvalu, Funafuti, Tuvalu
Industry: Public Administration
Undertaking research and provision of economic analysis on issues requested by Government
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University of Canterbury 02/1999 - 12/2001
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major:Economics
BCom. in Economics

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