Tongan Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa was conferred as a Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Accountants of Australia, by the Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr Adrian Morrison, on behalf of the institute (ICMA) on 27th January 2021.
The following message from was read out by HE Mr Adrian Morrison on behalf of the Council of ICMA along with ICMA’s President Professor Brendan O’Connell and CEO Professor Janek Ratnatunga; who were unable to attend the ceremony due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
“It gives me great pleasure to induct Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, the Prime Minister of Tonga, as a Fellow of Institute of Certified Management Accountants (Australia).
Dr Tu’i’onetoa has been a Certified Management Accountant of ICMA since 1997 and has been instrumental in advancing the profession in Tonga, first an Auditor General and later as the Minister of Finance. Amongst his many qualifications he has a Master of Business (Accounting) that he completed at Monash University, Australia; and through which he completed his Certified Management Accounting professional qualifications.
The Institute of Certified Management Accountants is honoured to induct Dr Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, as a Fellow of the Institute for his services to the profession in Tonga and the Pacific Islands.”
After his induction as a Fellow, Rev. Dr Tu’i’onetoa, said:
“This achievement is a profound and most humbling moment for me,”
“I have used this intellectual ability to assist the decision makers, including the leaders to make well calculated decisions based on the accuracy, the reliability, credibility and with complete financial information that are provided and audited on a timely basis in order to help government ministries, the people and business community to make the right decisions.”
Welcome remarks were made at the induction ceremony by H.E. Ms. ‘Aloma Johansson, Honorary Consul of Sweden to the Kingdom of Tonga.
Remarks congratulating the Prime Minister on this significant achievement was also made by Mr. Maile Fihinoa Tangitau ‘Akau’ola, District Officer of Lapaha and Lord Sevele ‘o Vailahi, the Former Prime Minister of Tonga.
The event was held at the Fa’onelua Convention Centre.
