Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago

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Profile

Leituala Kuiniselani Toelupe Tago, of Samoan descent (Sā Toelupē, Sā Leaupepe-tēlē, Sā Lemalū, Sā Leitualā, Sā Tagō, Sā Faumuinā), 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 made history as the Inaugural Regional Director for Polynesia at the Pacific Community (SPC). 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 indigenous reference “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.

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Current Role

Dean of Research and Strategic Partnerships
Pasifika Communities University (2026–present)

In this role, Leituala leads the university’s research strategy, oversees the Centre of Research for New Pasifika Consciousness (CERNPAC), and strengthens regional and international partnerships. She is responsible for advancing research excellence, building scholarship pathways, and aligning all research initiatives with the university’s “whole of life” philosophy.

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Previous Leadership Roles

• Regional Director for Oceania, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (2023–2025)
• Regional Director for Polynesia, Pacific Community (SPC) (2020–2023)
• Director, Social Development Programme, Pacific Community (2015–2020)
• Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development, Samoa (2009–2015)

Across these roles, she has led major regional programmes in gender equality, youth development, cultural policy, and sustainable development, while advising governments and representing the Pacific in global policy forums.

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Education

• PhD Candidate, Australian National University (2021–present)
• Master in International Social Development, University of New South Wales (2002)
• Bachelor of Social Work, Massey University (1997)
• Advanced Diploma in Business Management, University of New England (2006)
• Diploma in Government, Victoria University (2010)
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Victoria University (2010)

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Research and Publications

Leituala is currently undertaking doctoral research at the Australian National University, where she has developed the Talatalaga Research Methodology, a Pacific-grounded approach to knowledge production.

She has authored and co-authored numerous regional policy documents, research reports, and academic publications, including contributions to Pacific social policy, gender equality, and cultural development. Her work has informed regional strategies and international development frameworks across Oceania.

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Areas of Expertise

• Strategic leadership and governance
• Pacific development and social policy
• Gender equality and social inclusion
• Community and cultural development
• Research strategy and partnerships
• Cross-cultural leadership and engagement