A Tongan, Dr Visesio Pongi, became the first Pacific Islander to be named as the Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Apia, on Monday July 11.

Dr Visesio Pongi is a pioneer in taking leadership roles in regional organizations. In 1999 he became the first Pacific Islander to be the Director of the South Pacific Board for Educational Assessment (SPBEA), with its headquarter in Suva, Fiji. He recently resigned from SPBEA to become the Director of UNESCO Apia office.

Visesio took over the UNESCO directorship from Mrs Edna Tait who retired at the end of January 2005. Besides Visesio being the Director of the UNESCO Apia office he is also the UNESCO representative to 14 Pacific Member states, and three Associated Member states.

A Press Release from Tonga's Ministry of Education stated that Dr Visesio Pongi is an education specialist who has devoted his entire career to promoting quality education, both at national and sub-regional levels.

He began his career in 1976 as a teacher at Tonga College and eventually became the Principal of Tonga College and later the Tonga Teachers' Training College. He went on to become the Chief Education Officer and Deputy Director of Education of Tonga's Ministry of Education, until he resigned in 1996 to become the Director of SPBEA.

Dr Visesio Pongi will deliver his inaugural address to UNESCO Pacific Member States and National Commissions for UNESCO in Nadi, in early August.