SUVA, FIJI– The Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Laisiana Tugaga as its Head of Secretariat. Mrs Tugaga will formally assume office on Monday, 1 June 2026, bringing with her a distinguished career spanning more than fifteen years in trade and Customs at national and regional levels across the Pacific.
“The Steering Committee is confident that Mrs Tugaga possesses exactly the vision and strategic acumen our organisation needs at this pivotal time. Her track record across the region speaks for itself, and we look forward to the leadership she will bring to OCO,” said Mr Udit Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and Chairperson of the OCO Steering Committee.
Mrs Tugaga’s appointment follows a rigorous and competitive recruitment process led by the OCO Steering Committee. Evaluated alongside a strong field of highly qualified candidates, she was selected for her blend of technical expertise, strategic leadership, and deep familiarity with Pacific Customs priorities.
Mrs Tugaga is well known to the Pacific Customs community having previously served at the OCO Secretariat as Trade and Revenue Management Advisor and most recently completed her term as Operations Manager at the PACER Plus Implementation Unit in Samoa. Her expertise spans trade policy, Customs compliance, revenue systems, and policy alignment for Pacific Island countries.
Mrs Tugaga’s appointment is a significant milestone for the organisation. She is the first Fijian national to hold the position of Head of Secretariat, and only the second woman to lead the OCO succeeding her predecessor, Mrs Nancy Oraka, from Papua New Guinea.
Mrs Tugaga will be formally introduced to OCO members at the upcoming OCO Annual Conference on June 1 in Nadi, Fiji.
ENDS