Hilda Heine
Hilda Cathy Heine (born 6 April 1951) is a Marshallese educator and politician who has served as the president of the Marshall Islands since 2024, having previously served from 2016 to 2020. Prior to assuming office, she served as the Minister of Education. She was the first individual from the Marshall Islands to earn a doctorate degree, and the founder of the women's rights group Women United Together Marshall Islands (WUTMI).
Hilda Heine | |
|---|---|
Heine in 2022 | |
| 8th and 10th President of the Marshall Islands | |
| Assumed office 3 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | David Kabua |
| In office 28 January 2016 – 13 January 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Casten Nemra |
| Succeeded by | David Kabua |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Hilda Cathy Heine 6 April 1951 Majuro, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (now Marshall Islands) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse(s) | Tony Jetnil Tommy Kijiner |
| Children | 4, including Wilbur Heine and Thomas Heine |
| Education | University of Oregon (BA) University of Hawaii, Manoa (MA) University of Southern California (EdD) |
Heine is the first woman to hold the presidency of the Marshall Islands. In 2016 she was also the first female president of any Micronesian country, and only the fourth woman to serve as head of government for any independent nation in Oceania (following Jenny Shipley and Helen Clark of New Zealand and Julia Gillard of Australia).