Lopeti Senituli is named as Tonga's representative on a new eight member Pacific Islands Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism, announced by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat on 1 April.

The eight SSCR members are: 

• Chair, Dame Meg Taylor DBE, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
• Leonard Louma, PNG;
• Gustav Aitaro, Palau;
• Lopeti Senituli, Tonga;
• John Davidson, Australia;
• Ms Teresa Manarangi-Trott, Cook Islands.
• Civil Society, William Kostka, FSM;
• Private Sector, Peter Kiely, New Zealand.

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders requested the formation of the SSCR when they were on a Special Retreat in the Cook Islands in May 2014, and at the annual Forum in Palau in July 2014.

The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Dame Meg Taylor sees the work of Specialist Sub-committee for Regionalism as a significant improvement in the way development is considered and implemented in the region: “The Sub-Committee’s work is a key part of the Framework for Pacific Regionalism and represents a shift in the development paradigm in our region – to one where our Leaders will be positioned to determine the agenda and priorities for our region,” she stated.

Lopeiti is Tonga's CEO for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.