The first Vice Chancellor for the Tonga National University (TNU), Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Pāunga, was appointed by the council in Nuku’alofa, recently.
He assumed duty on 6 January 2025, following his appointment by the Council for a three-year term.
Dr. Paunga has almost 40 years of work experience in the Public Service and Higher and TVET Education.
Prior to joining TNU, Dr Pāunga was Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President for Regional Campuses and Global Engagement at the University of the South Pacific (USP), for 10 years. He was responsible for the management and infrastructure development of the USP's 14 campuses in its 12 member countries, namely Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Dr Paunga served as USP's acting Vice Chancellor and President from February to August 2021.
He previously served as a research fellow in Finance Education at USP's Institute of Education based in Tonga from July 2011 to May, 2014.
Dr. Paunga's career in the Tonga Public Service spanned from 1987 to 2004.
He started as an assistant teacher graduate in Tonga College on August 1987 and was later transferred to the position of Project Economist at the Central Planning Department from November 1988.
From April 1996 to August 2004, he served as a member of His Majesty’s Cabinet and Privy Council, having been appointed by the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV to the position of Minister for Labor, Commerce & Industries and Tourism.
His current and former professional memberships and appointments include:
- Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga Board (current)
- Member of the Tonga National University Council (current)
- Member of the Board of Directors of the MBF and WESTPAC Banks (former)
- Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Tonga Development Bank (former)
- Member of other various public enterprises Boards (former)
Dr. Paunga is fluent in the Japanese Language having studied in Japan, where he obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Economics and a Masters' degree in the same field and a Postgraduate Diploma in the Japanese Language from the Daito Bunka University, Tokyo.
He also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree - Economics from the Wesleyan University, Connecticut, United States of America.
As an independent consultant engaged by regional and international organizations, he has published in the areas of Industrial policy, Economic and Socio-development, Economic Statistics, Trade, Heritage Tourism, Skills Training and Teacher Workforce Supply and Demand.
