( Mr.) Isala TITO ISALA

Over 20 years of work experience as a lawyer, excellent oral communication and negotiation skills, Firm believer in the rule of law, good governance, accountability and transparency as key motivating factors for success. A team player and has sound management and decision-making skills and knowledge of Human rights, Commercial and Business law, Banking law, and Fisheries law.

Skills in preparing, managing, and implementing organisation activities resulting in success stories that align with corporation strategic plans and annual work budgets.

A collaborative listener and problem-solver and a firm believer that "champions" create "champions".

• Masters of Fisheries Policy, 2023 (UOW)
• Bachelor of Laws, 1999 (USP)
• Certificate of Enrolment 2000 (High Court of Fiji)
• Certificate to Practice 2000 (Board of Legal Education, Fiji)
• Professional Diploma in Legal practice, 2000 (USP)

• 2020 and current - Member of the Activity Governance Group (AGG) on Labour Standards on Fishing Vessels in partnership with NZFAT FFA IOM ILO and UNOD
• 2020 and current - Member of the Vaitupu Island Council National Development Plan Organising Committee (Tama Fenua)
• 2017 (Nov)-2023 (Nov) - Executive Member of the South Pacific Lawyers Association (SPLA)
• 2019(Dec)-2023 (Jan -was appointed for another three year term but had to leave for education purpose) - Board Director at the Tuvalu National Provident Fund (TNPF)
• 2016-2018 - Board Director at the Development Bank of Tuvalu (DBT)
• 2014-2015 - Board Director at the National Bank of Tuvalu (NBT)
• 2014 (Mar)-2018 (July) Secretary-General of TASNOC
• 2013 (Jan)-2014 (Mar) - Vice President and Executive of the Tuvalu Association of National Olympic Committee (TASNOC)
• 2011-2015 - President of the Tuvalu Rugby Union (TRU)
• 2009-2011 - Secretary of the Tuvalu Rugby Union (TRU)
• 2007-2009 - Representative from RRRT/SPC to the World Wide Fund for Nature WWF Pacific (Suva, Fiji)
• 2005-2006 - Board Director at the Tuvalu Telecommunication Corporation (Funafuti)
• Class captain Form 1 to Form 5 (School Prefect), school prefect final year of secondary school, and head of house prefect final year of secondary school, and President of the Tuvalu Student Association (1997-1999 Emalus Campus, USP).
• Held leadership roles as the Treasurer of the Youth (Lima Malosi) of Vaitupu Island (2002), and Secretary (Failautusi) (2005-2006) of the Vaitupu Island community on the capital of Tuvalu

• As a lawyer at the AG's office, I was responsible for drafting and assisting the Attorney General on national and international human rights law, environmental law, and Commercial law. I had helped assisted draft the Tuvalu Ombudsmen Act.
• In 2004 I also held the position of acting Attorney General and I was responsible for providing legal advice to the cabinet, government ministries, Secretaries, and the Local Governments for the eight islands of Tuvalu.
• I am admitted to practice in the Courts of Tuvalu and also Fiji.
• From 2014 to 2018 (August), I operated my law firm and I have acted for clients in civil and criminal litigation.
• I was trained and worked for about 10 months as the Climate Change and Disaster project officer at the Tuvalu Red Cross Society.
• I worked as a legal human rights trainer at the RRRT/SPC for 3 years. I joined when RRRT was still with UNDP. My work involved travelling to all the Pacific Islands and delivering training needs on human rights that produced impact results at the three levels of society namely the macro, meso, and micro levels.
• In 2009 I worked for 4 years at the Office of the People's Lawyer which was government funded. I represented members of the public who needed private legal representation in civil and criminal matters.
• Currently, I work as the Fisheries Legal Officer for the Tuvalu Fisheries Department, Ministry of Fisheries and Trade. I am responsible for preparing work related to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Pacific Community (SPC), The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), and the Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). The work included preparing access agreements, MOUs and MOAs, and contracts for Fisheries staff, preparing budgets that link to the department's annual plan and the department's corporate plan, reviewing legislation, regulations and policies, developing oceanic (MCS plans) and coastal fisheries management plans for the department Senior Management Committee, and giving advice to the Director of Fisheries, the ministry CEO, and our responsible Minister. I work directly with the Attorney General of Tuvalu also to advise on Tuvalu's framework for climate change position regarding marine resources protection and preservation.
• I also give legal advice to the National Fishing Corporation of Tuvalu (NAFICOT) and the private fisheries associations in Funafuti, Tuvalu. On two occasions I have held the leadership positions of Acting Assistant Secretary and the position of Acting CEO for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Attended the following:

• Human Rights Training Workshop for Women, Funafuti, Tuvalu, 2001

Workshop organised by Tuvalu National Council for Women. I presented a paper on behalf of the office of the Attorney General relating to the international human rights conventions. Advocated on my return the need to amend to include the discrimination grounds of "sex" for the Tuvalu Constitution 1987.

• Polynesian workshop on the principle international human rights treaties, Apia, Samoa, 11-14 December 2001

Organised jointly by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), through the Fellowship Programme in the Field of Human Rights, and the Regional Governance Programme (GOLD) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other partnership (e.g. RRRT). Assisted the Women Department in 2002 to prepare the report outline for the Tuvalu CEDAW report.

• Workshop on the Refugee Convention & Pacific Island Countries Today, Brisbane, Australia, 11-12 October 2001

Organised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to implore Pacific Island countries who are already parties to the convention to domesticate the convention in their national laws. Provided report and stated Tuvalu's obligation as a party to the convention.

• Sub-regional workshop for Pacific Island States on Human Rights Education and the Administration of Justice, Nadi, Fiji, 25- 27 June 2002

The workshop was organised jointly by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), through the Fellowship Programme in the Field of Human Rights, and the Regional Governance Programme (GOLD) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Worked to ensure government departments policies confirmed with human rights principles.

• Leadership Code Workshop, Funafuti, Tuvalu, 25 October 2004 to Wednesday 27 October 2004

This is a follow up workshop from a similar workshop that was organised in 2003 and also organised by the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and the Government of Tuvalu. The purpose of the workshop was to draft a Leadership Code for Tuvalu. I assisted the Attorney General facilitate the workshop. The stakeholders included Members of Parliament, Cabinet Ministers, representatives from Government Ministries, NGOs, local governments ( Falekaupule & Kaupule ).

• Corporate Governance Workshop/Course for Directors, Funafuti, 1-3 June 2004

I presented a paper on the laws relating to the Companies Act, and the Company and Business Registration Act. The workshop was for business people and directors from the various Corporations. The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Economic Planning and Finance in conjunction with the AUSAID. I supported and developed management governance and ethical leadership policies for the DBT, NBT, and TNPF (PE).

• National Human Rights Mechanisms Workshop, Nadi, 28 February-01 March, 2005

The workshop was organised by the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. Reported to the AG on way forward to establish a national human rights institution for Tuvalu.

• Regional Lawyers Training, 7th – 11th, Nadi, Fiji, November 2005

The workshop was organised by RRRT to further train legal officers in the pacific on human rights conventions & standards & their application to domestic law, policy & practice. Appeared in moot trial on conflict of marriage laws and human rights law for divorce and family law matters.

• Pacific Regional Red Cross Governance Training Workshop, 28th November 2005 to 3rd December 2005, Suva, Fiji

This workshop was organised by the International Red Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [Pacific Delegation] to train a person who could undertake and later conduct training for members of the Board of Governance of their national societies. It was important that the person was trained in all areas relevant to “Good Governance” and also in areas specific or pertinent to the Red Cross.

• Workshop for Tuvalu Public Enterprise (PE) Governance and Directors responsibility, Funafuti, Tuvalu, September 2016

Refresher training on Tuvalu for Directors governance and accountability basically to build better board, improve assessment of corporate plans and budgets, improve PE profitability, improve financing, improve financial reporting and auditing, and to improve human resource management issues. Example: reviewed and developed Terms and Condition policies for the PE that I was board director.

• Mr. Mike Batty, Fisheries Technical Advisor, Tuvalu Fisheries Department, Ministry of Fisheries and Trade, Government of Tuvalu, mike-batty@hotmail.com, +688 20343
• Mr. Penielu P Teo, General Manager, Tuvalu National Provident Fund, Funafuti, Tuvalu, penielu@gmail.com, +688 20693
• Dr Pio Emosi Manoa, Deputy Director General, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Honiara, Solomon Islands, pio.manoa@ffa.int, 677, 21124 ext: 3002

My hobbies encompass a diverse range of activities that reflect my commitment to health, community, and continuous learning. I am passionate about sports, both as a player and a coach, where I relish the competition and cherish the opportunity to instill sportsmanship. My dedication to community service is evident through my active volunteering and organisational efforts in local island events and with fisheries/environmental initiatives. I enjoy gardening activities and cultivating a sustainable home garden. Fishing allows me to connect with the ocean and its biodiversity and it lets me clear my mind and relax. In the realm of technology, I am constantly exploring and integrating new IT software to stay at the forefront of innovation, enhancing both personal and professional productivity.