Tina Vaka
Tina Vaka is an accomplished Managing Director with a career spanning more than 25 years across higher education, organisational leadership, communications, and business management. Holding qualifications including a BA, MA, MBA, Dip TESL, and Dip JPN, she has built a diverse and impactful professional portfolio grounded in strategic leadership and cross cultural expertise.
Since 1998, Tina has founded and led an international NGO operating across six Pacific nations, demonstrating her long standing commitment to community development and regional capacity building. Her earlier career in higher education in New Zealand and Australia includes roles as Lecturer and Program Manager, followed by positions in communications consulting for Pacific regional organisations and academic management within international education.
From 2020 to 2023, she served as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice Chancellor at UniSQ while simultaneously operating Sula Café as a business owner, further highlighting her versatility and entrepreneurial capability.
Known for her strength in leadership, strategic planning, HR and financial management, PR and communications, Tina blends professional excellence with a deep sense of purpose. She is an Australian and New Zealand national and currently resides in Brisbane, Australia.
Area of Expertise: Leadership, Financialand HR management, Strategic Planning, Business modelling, Marketing, PR and Communications,Training (VET and Higher Education)
Favorite Quotes:
To be is not to be!
Meet More of Our Dedicated Team Members
Alisi hails from Fiji and is married to James Panuve from Tonga, where they currently live. They have three adult children and three grandchildren. Alisi was instrumental in organizing the Tonga 2023 LLS Legacy Leadership Symposium and the Kingdom’s first Family Conference in October 2024.
Fitaloa is of Samoan, Tongan and Fijian heritage. She is an experienced public speaker MCing university graduations, business conferences, and high-profile gatherings with confidenceand clarity. With a strong passion for leadership development, she has dedicated years to mentoring and empowering university students and cultivating the next generation of influential leaders.
A Pacific human rights and governance specialist with over 20 years’ experience serving across regional organizations, the United Nations system, and civil society. Currently managing my own consultancy firm providing services in the areas of human rights, diplomacy, governance and Pasifika leadership values etc. Previously held senior leadership roles with the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat as Program Manager for Governance and Legal Affairs, and with the Pacific Community (SPC), including as Senior Human Rights Adviser and Senior Trainer with the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT).
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