Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago, of Samoan descent is a regional public servant with nearly three decades of experience in the Pacific. She specialises in strategic leadership, social policy, development programming, organisational governance, change management, community engagement and institutional strengthening. Her deep knowledge of Pacific contexts and indigenous cultures; Pacific regionalism and commitment to Pacific-led development, continues to guide her journey as a Pacific professional and as the Dean for Research and Strategic Partnerships at the Pasifika Communities University (PCU). Before joining PCU, Leituala was the Regional Director for the Oceania Regional Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); and prior to IUCN, Leituala led the establishment of the Polynesia Regional Office (PRO) of the Pacific Community (SPC) as the first Regional Director for the PRO. From 2015 – 2020, she was the Director of SPC’s Social Development Programme providing programme leadership on gender equality, youth development, and cultural development for SPC’s 22 member countries and territories. In 2009, Leituala was appointed the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) in the Government of Samoa, before she began her journey as a regional public servant with SPC in 2015. In keeping with the Samoan tradition of tautua (service), Leituala also serves as Chairperson of Onomea Productions. Under her leadership, Onomea Productions led the transformation of the Miss Samoa Platform, a cultural heritage programme that uplifts and empowers young women, championing a movement that is grounded in the Samoan philosophy, “E lē o le fale, a o le anofale”. 

Leituala is an alumnus of the University of New South Wales (Australia), Massey University (New Zealand), University of New England (Australia), Victoria University (Australia) and is currently in the final stages of her PhD candidacy at the Australian National University’s Department of Pacific Affairs. She carries the matai chiefly title of Leituala from Vaito’omuli, Palauli, Savai’i—an honour she upholds with pride as she continues her lifelong commitment to serving Pasifika peoples and communities.