The Board of Directors of the Tertiary Scholarships and Loans Service (TSLS) has announced the appointment of Dr Apisalome Movono as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from 2 January 2026.
The Board said the appointment followed a rigorous and competitive recruitment process conducted in line with the provisions of the TSLS Act and guided by established principles of good governance.
Dr Movono’s appointment signals a renewed focus on strengthening TSLS’s mandate to support equitable access to tertiary education and skills development for all Fijians.
Dr Movono brings extensive experience in education leadership, public sector reform and strategic policy development.
He has a strong background in tertiary education systems, organisational leadership and stakeholder engagement, and is widely recognised for his contributions to policy, governance and institutional strengthening across the Pacific.
He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Tourism Management from Griffith University in Australia, a Master of Arts in Tourism Studies, a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Affairs and Tourism Studies. During his undergraduate studies, Dr Movono was awarded the Gold Medal and the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for outstanding all-round performance, as well as the Gold Medal for academic excellence in Tourism Studies.
Dr Movono is a member of the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance and previously served as Lead Expert for the International Tourism Panel on Climate Change. He has held senior academic and leadership roles in New Zealand and Australia, and most recently served as an Associate Professor at the University of the South Pacific. In addition, he has contributed to national and regional development through service on high-level review committees, including the Fiji Integrated Rural Development Framework Review, the Fiji Great Council of Chiefs Review, and the Fijian Administration Review.
His experience also extends to scholarship governance, having served as a senior member of the Massey University Scholarship Committee and the Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Selection Panel, overseeing multi-million-dollar funding portfolios. A widely published researcher, Dr Movono’s work focuses on public policy, education access, tourism resilience and sustainable development in the Pacific.
The Board said Dr Movono’s leadership approach is grounded in accountability, transparency, innovation and collaboration. Under his leadership, TSLS is expected to continue modernising its systems and processes, strengthening partnerships with education providers and stakeholders, and enhancing the accessibility, responsiveness and transparency of its programmes.
The Board looks forward to a new phase of growth and impact for TSLS under Dr Movono’s leadership. The statement has been approved by the TSLS Board.
