Jesoni Vitusagavulu
Encyclopedia
Jesoni Vitusagavulu is a Fiji
an businessman and diplomat, who was appointed as Fiji's fifth Ambassador
to the United States
on 26 May 2005, succeeding Anare Jale
. He is also accredited as Ambassador to Cuba
and Mexico
, and High Commissioner
to Canada
. He presented his credentials to President
George W. Bush
on 3 October 2005, and to Governor-General Michaëlle Jean
of Canada on 13 June 2006.
with a Bachelors degree in economics
and politics, he completed a Masters degree in Philosophy
in development studies from the University of Sussex
in the United Kingdom
. He also received a diploma
in airline management from the University of Bar Ilan in Israel
, and a graduate certificate in management from the Australian Graduate School of Management of the University of New South Wales
.
, information technology
, and audio-visual
industries. He was Manager for Special Projects with the Fiji Development Bank from 1978 to 1990, when he assumed a senior management position in Air Pacific
, which he held till 1996, when he became Chief Executive of the Fiji Trade and Investment Bureau, a position he held until 2003. Previously, he had served on a number of boards, including as chairman of the Agricultural Marketing Authority, Food Processors Limited, and the Kontiki Growth Fund. He as also been a director of the Fijian Trust Fund Board, Kadavu Holdings Limited, and the Kadavu Development Company.
He also lectured for the MBA course at the University of the South Pacific
.
Vitusagavulu is known to be one of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
's closest associates.
Vitusagavulu is married to Silina and has three daughters - Makenesi, Asinate and Leilani.
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an businessman and diplomat, who was appointed as Fiji's fifth Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on 26 May 2005, succeeding Anare Jale
Anare Jale
Anare Jale is a Fijian civil servant, who was the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Service Commission from May 2005 to 7 December 2006, when he was dismissed from office by the military junta which had seized power on 5 December...
. He is also accredited as Ambassador to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He presented his credentials to President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
on 3 October 2005, and to Governor-General Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean
Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian journalist and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010....
of Canada on 13 June 2006.
Background and education
Vitusagavulu is a native of Kadavu Island. After graduating from the University of the South PacificUniversity of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
with a Bachelors degree in economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and politics, he completed a Masters degree in Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in development studies from the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He also received a diploma
Diploma
A diploma is a certificate or deed issued by an educational institution, such as a university, that testifies that the recipient has successfully completed a particular course of study or confers an academic degree. In countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word diploma refers to...
in airline management from the University of Bar Ilan in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and a graduate certificate in management from the Australian Graduate School of Management of the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
.
Business career
Vitusagavulu was the managing director of Toptier Management, a management consultancy and investment company which he founded in 2003, specializing in assisting local and foreign investors in tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
, and audio-visual
Audio-visual
The term Audio-Visual may refer to works with both a sound and a visual component, the production or use of such works, or to equipment used to create and present such works...
industries. He was Manager for Special Projects with the Fiji Development Bank from 1978 to 1990, when he assumed a senior management position in Air Pacific
Air Pacific
Air Pacific Limited, Fiji's international airline, operates international and domestic services around the Pacific and to North America and Hong Kong. It is also a partner with the frequent flyer programmes of Qantas, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines...
, which he held till 1996, when he became Chief Executive of the Fiji Trade and Investment Bureau, a position he held until 2003. Previously, he had served on a number of boards, including as chairman of the Agricultural Marketing Authority, Food Processors Limited, and the Kontiki Growth Fund. He as also been a director of the Fijian Trust Fund Board, Kadavu Holdings Limited, and the Kadavu Development Company.
He also lectured for the MBA course at the University of the South Pacific
University of the South Pacific
The University of the South Pacific is a public university with a number of locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania. It is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment. USP's academic programmes are recognised worldwide, attracting students...
.
Vitusagavulu is known to be one of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
's closest associates.
Vitusagavulu is married to Silina and has three daughters - Makenesi, Asinate and Leilani.