H.E Mr AUNESE MAKOI SIMATI
Ambassador/Permanent Representative
Tuvalu Mission to the United Nations
New York, USA.

Mr Aunese Makoi Simati was sworn in as Tuvalu’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations on the 22nd of December 2012. He was sworn in as Tuvalu’s Ambassador to the United States on January 14th 2013 and concluded the tenure on July 2017. 

Prior to this, Mr Simati served as High Commissioner in the Tuvalu High Commission in Suva, Fiji since February 2010 where he ensures that Tuvalu’s ties with Fiji, development partners and international organizations is maintained and continues to strengthen. 

Mr Simati served as Permanent Secretary in various Ministries including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Industries; Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural Development; and the Ministry of Communication and Transport. Previously, he was employed in number of senior positions including Senior Assistant Secretary; Acting Director of Planning; Senior Economic Advisor; and Rural Physical Planner.

Mr Simati held Director and Chairman Positions in various Board of Directors Committees including Development Bank of Tuvalu; Tuvalu Philatelic Corporation; Tuvalu Trust Fund Advisory Committee; Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation; Air Fiji Ltd; National Bank of Tuvalu; Tuvalu National Provident Fund; Development Coordinating Committee; Public Tenders Board; Disaster Management Committee and Public Service Advisory Committee.

Among other aspects, Mr Simati’s background revolves around various advisory roles in finance, rural development, gender mainstreaming, efficiencies and effectiveness of government strategies, monitoring and coordinating of aid progammes, trade negotiations and taxation reforms, and community and island council programme and policy development. 

Mr Simati graduated from Waikato University, New Zealand with a Master of Social Science in Economics and Geography with Second Class Honors – First Division in 1999; and a Bachelor of Social Science with First Class Honors (Economics) in 1998.

Mr Simati is married to Mrs Sunema Pie Simati and blessed with four children. He enjoys learning foreign languages and cultures; likes the outdoors and plays tennis. He is a dedicated Christian and likes to help the unfortunates.