Aunese Simati

Aunese Makoi Simati (born 22 April 1967),^[1] is a Tuvaluan diplomat. Simati, was appointed as Tuvalu's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following Tuvalu opened an embassy to the UAE in Abu Dhabi in April 2022.^[2] He was Tuvalu's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 20 December 2012^[3] to July 2017.^[4]

Aunese Makoi Simati
Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the United Nations
In office 20 December 2012 – 21 July 2017
Prime Minister	Willy Telavi Enele Sopoaga
Secretary General	Ban Ki-moon
Preceded by	Afelee F. Pita
Succeeded by	Samuelu Laloniu
Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates
Incumbent
Assumed office 2022
Prime Minister	Kausea Natano
Preceded by	First appointment
Personal details
Born	(1967-04-22) 22 April 1967 (age 57)
Alma mater	Waikato University
Profession	Diplomat

He studied at Waikato University (New Zealand), obtaining a Master's degree in social science (economics and geography).^[1] He worked as a civil servant in the Tuvaluan Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Industries from 1991 to 2003, in the Department of Planning, rising to the position of Senior Assistant Secretary in that department in 1999.^[1] In 2003, he was promoted to the position of Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communications and Transport, then became Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural Development in 2005; he returned to the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Industries, as Permanent Secretary, in 2006.^[1]

In 2009, he began a diplomatic career, being appointed Permanent Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs, within the Office of the Prime Minister (who at that time was Apisai Ielemia). The following year, he was appointed as Tuvalu's High Commissioner to Fiji. On 20 December 2012, he presented his credentials to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as Tuvalu's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.^[1] He simultaneously served as Tuvaluan Ambassador to the United States, having presented his credentials to President Barack Obama on 14 January 2013.^[5][6]

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Afelee F. Pita	Permanent Representative of Tuvalu to the United Nations 2012–2017	Succeeded by Samuelu Laloniu
New office	Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates 2022 to present	Succeeded by Incumbent

References

1. "NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF TUVALU PRESENTS CREDENTIALS", United Nations press release, April 2013
2. Ibrahim, Lina (4 April 2022). "Tuvalu FM urges countries to take greater responsibility for climate change to save island nations". MENAFN- Emirates News Agency. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
3. Tuvalu UN Mission (20 December 2012). "New Permanent Representative of Tuvalu Presents Credentials". United Nations. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
4. Tuvalu UN Mission (July 2017). "Ambassadors". United Nations. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
5. "Foreign Embassies in the U.S. and Their Ambassadors - Office of The Chief of Protocol". U.S. State Department. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
6. "Ambassador from Tuvalu: Who Is Aunese Makoi Simati?", allgov.com, 27 April 2013