Fiji’s High Commissioner to Australia, His Excellency David Kolitagane, presented his credentials to His Excellency General, the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.
In conveying the greetings and well wishes of the President of the Republic of Fiji, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, High Commissioner Kolitagane informed the Governor General that it was an honour for him to represent the Government and people of Fiji in Australia and he looked forward to working closely with the Australian Government.
With a focus on enhancing political, economic and social ties between Fiji and Australia, a key part of the High Commissioner’s new role will be strengthening partnership with the representatives of the Australian private sector, investors, academia, Civil Society Organisations and the 100,000 Fijian diaspora community in Australia.
High Commissioner Kolitagane will play an instrumental role in the implementation of the “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent” and further enhance the levels of engagements through the “Vuvale Partnership”.
In his new diplomatic role, High Commissioner Kolitagane will work with his team at the Fiji High Commission in Canberra and the Australian counterparts to strengthen Fiji-Australia collaboration in the areas of health, education, tourism, trade and investment, labour mobility, sports, defence, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, amongst others.
High Commissioner Kolitagane brings with him more than 20 years of experience within the civil service. He was the former Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management. He also held senior management roles and Board Director positions in various government related companies including the Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) and Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) to name a few.
Mr Kolitagane’s appointment as Fiji’s High Commissioner is for a term of 3 years. He takes over from High Commissioner Luke Daunivalu, who is now based in Geneva as Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of Fiji to the United Nations and Other International Organisations in Geneva.
High Commissioner Kolitagane was accompanied to the presentation of credentials ceremony by his spouse, Mrs Veniana Tawailasa and Counsellor, Ms Salote Tagivakatini, from the Fiji High Commission in Canberra.
