| Luamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu | |
|---|---|
| 4th Ombudsman of Samoa | |
| In office 1 April 2021 – 30 May 2023 | |
| Nominated by | Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi |
| Appointed by | Tuimalealiʻifano Vaʻaletoʻa Sualauvi II |
| Preceded by | Maiava Iulai Toma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1958-08-06) 6 August 1958 (age 66) Vaiala, Western Samoa Trust Territory |
| Alma mater | Queen Mary University of London, University of Auckland, University of Newcastle |
Luamanuvao Katalaina Sapolu (born 6 August 1958) was Samoa's Ombudsman from 2021 to 2023. She is the first woman ever appointed to that role. She is the sister of former Chief Justice of Samoa Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu, and is married to Judge Richard Lussick.
Sapolu is from the village of Vaiala, Samoa. She was educated at the University of Newcastle in Australia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1986. She was admitted as a barrister in New Zealand in December 1986. She returned to Samoa in 1988 where she worked as a lawyer. In 2002 she moved to London to work for the Commonwealth Secretariat, where she worked in various positions. During this time she completed a Master of Laws at Queen Mary University of London. After serving as Chief Legal Counsel for the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States in Brussels, she served as Director of the Commonwealth secretariat's Rule of Law Division from 2013 - 2017, then as Senior Director of the Governance and Peace Directorate until 2019. In 2020 she returned to Samoa and founded a consultancy firm.
In February 2021 she was appointed Ombudsman, the first woman to hold the role. She was sworn in on 1 April 2021. She resigned from the role for personal reasons on 30 May 2023.
References
- ^ "LUAMANUVAO Katalaina Sapolu". Office of the Ombudsman. Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ "Samoa first female Ombudsman takes office oath". RNZ. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ "Luamanuvao Katalina Sapolu Appointed Ombudsman of Samoa". Samoa Global News. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- ^ Soli Wilson (1 April 2021). "First woman to head Ombudsman Office sworn in". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- Lagi Keresoma (1 April 2021). "Samoa's First Woman Ombudsman is Sworn in". Talamua. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
- Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi (12 June 2023). "Luamanuvao bows out as Ombudsman". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
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