Iakoba Italeli
Sir Iakoba Taeia Italeli GCMG is a Tuvaluan politician who was the governor-general of Tuvalu from 16 April 2010, until 22 August 2019, when he resigned to contest in the 2019 general election. He was not successful in that election, however he was elected as a member of parliament in the 2024 Tuvaluan general election.
Sir Iakoba Italeli GCMG | |
|---|---|
Italeli in May 2015 | |
| 14th Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu | |
| Assumed office 27 February 2024 | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Prime Minister | Feleti Teo |
| Preceded by | Samuelu Teo |
| 9th Governor-General of Tuvalu | |
| In office 16 April 2010 – 22 August 2019 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Apisai Ielemia Maatia Toafa Willy Telavi Enele Sopoaga |
| Preceded by | Kamuta Latasi |
| Succeeded by | Teniku Talesi (acting) |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Nui | |
| Assumed office 26 January 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Dr. Puakena Boreham |
| Member of the Tuvaluan Parliament for Nui | |
| In office 3 August 2006 – 16 September 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Taom Tanukale |
| Succeeded by | Taom Tanukale |
| Attorney General of Tuvalu | |
| In office 2002–2006 | |
| Preceded by | Feleti Teo |
| Succeeded by | Eselealofa Apinelu |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Iakoba Taeia Italeli |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse | Lady Koling Italeli Taeia |
| Alma mater | University of Malta |
He is also a former attorney general of Tuvalu who served from 2002 to 2006. He was the chancellor of the University of the South Pacific from July 2014 to June 2015.
In 2022 Italeli ran as Tuvalu's candidate to be the next Commonwealth Secretary-General. The aim was to fill the potential vacancy created if incumbent Patricia Scotland were to be prematurely disendorsed by a majority of member states, and to institute a pro-climate action agenda for the entire Commonwealth. At CHOGM 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, Italeli withdraw after an initial straw poll the votes were ultimately spit between Jamaican candidate Kamina Johnson Smith and Lady Scotland, who was victorious and stayed on as Secretary-General.