It is with great honour that we introduce Mrs. Lorine Chan Tevi as the second recipient of the honorary doctorate to be awarded by Pasifika Communities University. Mrs. Tevi’s remarkable contributions to service and leadership have left an indelible mark on both the local and global communities.
Mrs Lorine Chan Tevi, born on February 4, 1939, is an esteemed octogenarian known for her significant contributions to service and leadership. She stands out as one of Pasifika’s prominent women leaders and a visionary educator who has dedicated her life to the Household of God across a multitude of leadership roles. With over five decades of experience, she is recognised as a pioneer in civil society organisations.
Among her notable accomplishments is the establishment of the Methodist Lay Training Centre in Davuilevu, Fiji, where she served as its inaugural principal. Additionally, she held the position of General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, further enhancing her impact at the regional level.
On the global stage, she contributed to the sub-unit on Education at the World Council of Churches in Geneva, championing educational initiatives within the Household of God and addressing Pasifika concerns. Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, the former General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, has highlighted her as an “outstanding example [. . .] of [. . .] prophetic leadership of the church both locally and globally.”
Upon her return to Fiji, Mrs. Lorine Chan Tevi made significant contributions to the Pacific Theological College, coordinating the God’s Pacific People Programme. She also served as a lecturer at the Davuilevu Methodist Theological College. Her commitment as a holistic and community-oriented leader is further exemplified by her role as President of the Fiji Council of Social Services. Among her many initiatives in the civil society sector, she is the co-founder with her late husband, Rev Sunipa Tevi, of the Veiqaravi Ecumenical Training Centre in New Town, Suva, Fiji. This centre is dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth with practical employment skills such as carpentry, grounds maintenance, and plumbing, while also promoting civic responsibility within their households and broader communities.
Mrs Lorine Chan Tevi is widely respected both locally and internationally. In recognition of her lifetime achievements, she was awarded medals from the Government of Vanuatu in 2017 and the Government of Fiji in 2020.
