New CEO announced for the Ministry of Sports

Staff Reporters/

04 September 2024 – Cabinet today announced the appointment of the first Chief Executive Officer for the newly established Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the reappointment of the CEO of Samoan Lands Corporation.

Sports Administrator Luatua Semiperive Epati is the first Chief Executive Officer to lead the newly established Ministry of Sports and Recreation.

Other than a competitive sportsman in his younger years, Luatua brings 27 years’ experience as a sports administrator as a former Assistant CEO with what was the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.

He holds a Bachelor in Physical Education and Sports from Jiwaji University based in Gwalior India.

Luatua was selected out of 8 applicants who applied for the post.

Cabinet also the reappointment of Ulugia Petelo Kavesi as Chief Executive Officer/General Manager of the Samoa Lands Corporation (SLC) for three more years.

The appointment is made as a new Ministry of Lands and Survey is being established with the matters of lands registration now moved from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, to the Samoa Land Corporation.

Ulugia holds a Masters of Arts in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus.

He also graduated with a Masters of Business Administration, (MBA) in 2007.

Ulugia started his public service career of 28 years as a Research Assistant with the USP Alafua Campus.

He then served as Manager Research & Statistics with the Samoa Tourism Authority, Administration Manager with the Accident Compensation Board and has been General Manager SLC since 2016.