Today, the Samoa Public Service Commission, with support from the New
Zealand Public Service Fale, proudly welcomed nearly 70 Pacific public service leaders and senior officials
from 16 member countries to the Pacific Public Service Leaders’ Fono 2024.
The Fono: Pacific Public Service Leaders’ Conference is a Pacific-led forum that fosters the exchange of
insights and information on public service developments, challenges, and opportunities for reform. Its
agenda is shaped by Pacific public service leaders. The theme of this year’s Fono is “A resilient workforce
achieving public service excellence the Pacific way.”
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Samoan Public Service Commission, Mr. Nonu Lemauga
Saleimoa Va’ai, expressed his pride in hosting the event, stating:
“The Samoa Public Service Commission is delighted to welcome our Pacific public sector colleagues. We
are honored to host this important gathering, as it provides an opportunity for us, as leaders in the Samoa
Public Service, to showcase our values and bring to life our vision of Public Service Excellence, ‘Talofa
With a Smile,’ throughout this conference and beyond.”
The keynote speaker, Prime Minister and Minister for the Public Service, Hon. Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa,
also welcomed the delegates, emphasising the importance of the conference:
“We pride ourselves as Samoans on our values of service and excellence, and we are honoured to welcome
Pacific public service leaders to the Fono. This week promises meaningful conversations, insights, and
shared learnings. By fostering collaboration on regional needs and developing cooperative solutions
grounded in Pacific expertise, the Fono 2024 will strengthen relationships among Pacific public service
leaders and advance our shared commitment to public service excellence.”
PSC Secretary, Mr. Kolone Tikeri, outlined the agenda, highlighting the focus on collaboration and
leadership development:
“Over the next four days, we look forward to working together to address regional public service priorities
identified during the Fale’s recent sub-regional meetings. A key focus of this year’s Fono will be shaping
future public service leaders and enhancing service delivery in practice.”
A highlight of the opening ceremony was the official handover from New Zealand, the previous host of the
Fono. Tania Ott, Deputy Commissioner at the New Zealand Public Service Commission and Head of the
Public Service Fale, reflected on the legacy of the conference and its ongoing importance in fostering public
service excellence across the Pacific. Ms Ott said
“We extend our thanks to the Samoa Public Service Commission and Public Service Leaders from across
the Pacific for their work to support the development of strong, transparent, and effective public services

locally, and regionally. The New Zealand public service has an important role to play as a partner in the
Pacific by supporting public sector strengthening initiatives that lift capability and build resilience because
as we know, public sector strengthening goes to the heart of regional security, democratic nation-building,
and economic development efforts.”
“Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have consistently articulated the importance of good governance for the
region and the vital contribution good governance makes to sustainable development and economic
growth. The Fale’s support to Pacific Public Service Leaders and their agencies to improve integrity and
ethics behaviour and implement merit-based, equitable and inclusive management practices directly
contribute to these aspirations.”
Fono 2024 is being held at Taumeasina Island Resort and takes place over the next four days. For more
information, please see www.ppscfono2024.ws.
More information
About the Fono: Pacific Public Service Leaders Conference
· The Fono: Pacific Public Service Leaders’ Conference has taken place across the region every year
since 2004-2019 with a break occurring between 2020-2022 due to the travel restrictions of COVID-19.
The Fono is a Pacific-led forum that facilitates the exchange of information and insights in public service
developments, challenges, and reform opportunities, with the agenda firmly set by Pacific Public Service
Leaders.
· As determined by Pacific Public Service Leaders in 2023, this year’s conference is being held in
Samoa and the Samoa Public Service Commission is the host agency supported by the Fale who provide
all secretariat support.
· The Fono is an annual meeting of sixteen Pacific Public Service Leaders and senior officials, from the
Public Service Commissions (or equivalent central public service agencies) of the Cook Islands, Fiji,
Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New
Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
· The meeting dates are 18 – 21 November 2024, and a total of 70 international delegates are confirmed
to attend, from all sixteen Pacific member countries.
About the Public Service Fale
· The Public Service Fale was established in January 2020 and is a Pacific-led public service centre of
excellence, based at the New Zealand Public Service Commission in Wellington, New Zealand. The Fale
serves and supports 16 Pacific Public Service Commissioners (PPSCs) to achieve their public sector
strengthening priorities. The Fale is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
· The Public Service Fale works directly with sixteen Pacific Public Service Commissioners and their
agencies to delivering practical and needs based regional programmes and tailored bilateral support with
the overarching goal that over time, Pacific public services are strengthened to be more trusted by Pacific
citizens, adaptable, results-driven, gender inclusive and people-centred.
· The Fale works directly with Pacific Public Service Leaders and their Agencies in two key capacities:
o The first, is to deliver co-designed regional programmes and tailored multi-lateral and
bilateral support, based on the stated needs of Pacific Public Service Leaders, to support them to
achieve their public sector strengthening priorities.

o The second, is to provide secretariat and governance support to the Pacific Public Service
Leaders’ Group, the annual Fono: Pacific Public Service Leaders’ Conference (the Fono), the
Public Service Fale Governance Board and technical working groups as directed by the Board,
alongside coordination of activities with development partners also working in the Pacific on public
sector strengthening.