Our Pacific Leaders

Dr Telaite Biu is the Director of the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji, and lead ophthalmologist for the Pacific Eye Institute and Pacific-wide diabetes eye programme. Diabetes is the third most common cause of visual impairment in Fiji, and Dr Biu and her team provide diabetes eye screening and treatment in central Fiji, and train eye care professionals from around the Pacific in diabetes eye care.

Dr Qalo leads the Pacific outreach team to countries that don’t yet have adequate eye care. He has performed thousands of sight-saving surgeries.

Dr Ansari is the lead ophthalmologist for our fully-equipped Mobile Eye Clinic. Travelling between Fiji’s two main islands, the Mobile Eye Clinic take eye care to thousands of people who don’t have access to the services they need.

With our support, Dr Mataka is studying a Masters in Medicine Ophthalmology at the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji. When he graduates he’ll return to Tonga as the country’s first qualified ophthalmologist.

Read more about Dr Mataka

Dr Muavono is employed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Fiji. She often accompanies our Pacific outreach team as they travel around the region.

Ms Rokobiau has been an invaluable member of our Pacific outreach team from day one. She is also a mentor for local nurses.

Ms Tavaga played a key role in the establishment of the Pacific Eye Institute and has helped grow it into a centre of excellence for eye care in the Pacific region.

Ms Prasad works with our Fiji and regional teams to deliver our programmes. She’s supported the work of the Pacific Eye Institute from day one, from the Mobile Eye Clinic through to local and regional outreaches.

Mr Baral is a qualified optometrist and our Regional Education Manager. He oversees our education programmes at both the Pacific Eye Institute and Divine Word University, Papua New Guinea and is instrumental in increasing the capacity of local teaching leadership in the region.

Dr Szetu is the Programme Medical Director at our Regional Eye Centre in the Solomon Islands. He’s been with us since 2001 and was previously Director of the Pacific Eye Institute in Fiji which he helped established. He also set up the Pacific Eye Care Society (PacEYES) to represent the interests of eye care professionals working in the Pacific. Dr Szetu is highly respected by the global eye health community and has inspired others to join the fight against avoidable blindness.

Dr Posala is the Head of Ophthalmology at our Regional Eye Centre in the Solomon Islands and is employed by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services. He led the charge to establish and develop an electronic patient management system to improve the quality and effectiveness of patient care.

Dr Pikacha leads the national Diabetes Eye Programme in the Solomon Islands. Employed by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Health and Medical Services, she is the first female ophthalmologist in her country.

Mrs Isarongo has recently taken on the role of General Manager at the Regional Eye Centre. Her work is instrumental in ensuring we work effectively with the local Ministry of Health to deliver quality eye care services to the people of the Solomon Islands.

Ms Mor is the Acting General Manager at the Modilon Eye Clinic in Papua New Guinea. She’s been with us since 2008.

Graduating from the Pacific Eye Institute in 2016 with a Masters in Medicine Ophthalmology, Dr Ah-Ching Sefo is the first ophthalmologist in Samoa.

Dr Tekaroi is the only ophthalmologist in Kiribati. She was instrumental in establishing the eye clinic at Tungaru Central Hospital following her graduation from the Pacific Eye Institute in 2014. More recently Dr Tekaroi has been part of efforts to improve pathways for diabetics to access essential eye care.