Nacanieli Yalimaiwai

Chairperson

Nacanieli was appointed as The Fono’s Board Chair in 2022. Previously, Nacanieli was the Chair of The Fono’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee from 2018.

A Chartered Accountant and Lawyer by profession, he holds LLB, and BMS (Acctg) degrees from the University of Waikato, an MBA from the University of Auckland and is currently a member of the Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand.

Nacanieli has 20 years of experience at senior levels in large iconic New Zealand private and public-sector organisations, including Fletcher Building, Mainland, Fonterra, Masport, Auckland Regional Council, and Auckland Council. He also has extensive experience in financial management, organisational strategy, policy and framework development, implementation, monitoring, reporting and evaluation.

Born and raised in Fiji, Nacanieli has a strong connection, knowledge and experience of the social, cultural, political and economic contexts of Pacific communities. He is a Fijian community leader and past President of the Fiji Community Association of Auckland. Currently, he is one of the leaders of the Fijian Advisory Council of Aotearoa’s working group.

Nacanieli is interested in socio-economic issues, advancement of the poor and marginalised, parliamentary politics, diversity and inclusion. He likes to follow rugby, especially rugby sevens. His two favourite teams are the champion Fiji rugby sevens team and the mighty All Blacks.