Meet Malieta Inoke

Malieta is Tonga’s first Country Coordinator of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). She’s also a Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) member, an Australian Awards Scholarship winner and a graduate of the ANU Master of Professional Accounting.

The UNCDF was established in 1966 by the UN General Assembly and helps the world’s least-developed countries enhance their economies by supplementing existing sources of capital assistance.

In her role as Country Coordinator in Tonga, Malieta’s job is to organise activities under the Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP) and the Pacific Insurance Climate Adaptation Programme (PICAP), both of which are jointly administered with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN University- Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Australia, New Zealand and the European Union (EU) also provide support.

As she describes them, each of the initiatives she works with aims to achieve key policy reforms that support the development of financial services tailored to the specific needs of Pacific Islanders.

"One of my main focuses is financial inclusion," says Malieta. "This gives youth, women, migrant workers, people with disabilities, those living in remote and rural areas and others access to financial services."

Building pathways to stronger futures

Malieta has been fostering inclusive digital economies for some time. Before arriving in Australia to study for an ANU postgraduate degree, she had already launched Tonga’s first e-commerce platform, The BeeHive, in 2023.

"The BeeHive was developed in partnership with Digicel Tongato to help drive the growth and sustainability of the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprise sectors, representing a growing number of women," Malieta says.

She believes women must be able to participate as business owners and consumers.

"Governments must invest in women innovators and entrepreneurs, including in the e-commerce space."

How passion and drive created magic

Born and raised in Tonga, Malieta and her four siblings learnt the value of hard work and quality education — for men and women — at an early age. She grew up with enterprising parents and was exposed to business and budgeting firsthand.

Malieta’s love of accounting and mathematics blossomed in her school years. Afterwards, she completed an undergraduate degree at The University of the South Pacific in Fiji, leading to a two-year stint as an accounting and computer studies teacher at her old school, Tonga High.

After leaving teaching, Malieta worked in the policy division of the National Reserve Bank of Tonga for five years. Part of her role was in financial inclusion, which involves encouraging individuals and businesses to access valuable and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs sustainably and responsibly.

"We were trying to get unbanked people banked to help reduce poverty and boost prosperity," says Malieta.

"I learnt about the value of financial independence, which planted the seed for my future career preparation. I knew then that I could change financial fortunes."

When Malieta met ANU

Malieta decided to apply to The Australian National University to study the Master of Professional Accounting after banking colleagues who had also studied there recommended it and was awarded the prestigious Australian Awards Scholarship funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

"Many Pacific Island leaders have studied at ANU through the Australian Awards program, so I knew it would be an amazing stepping-stone to the next stage of my career," Malieta says.

While at ANU in Canberra in 2019, Malieta lived on campus at Toad Hall, affectionately known as a ‘mini–United Nations’. Culturally diverse and housing mostly ANU postgraduate students, she says the residence suited her age group and life experience.

"I was 29 when I started my ANU master’s degree, and Toad Hall was filled with PhD and master’s students," Malieta says.

"I was living with like-minded people, including those from the Asia Pacific. It gave me confidence and helped me adapt to my new home."

Malieta joined the Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) at ANU.

"The WLI taught me many new skills, including networking with women. Through research and panel discussions that were part of my tutorials, I and other Pacific scholars gained invaluable developmental leadership opportunities that we wouldn’t have gained elsewhere," she says.

"One of my most invaluable WLI opportunities was being paired with Rebecca Worner, senior adviser to Australia’s then Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Alex Hawke."

"That was a real turning point in my career," Malieta says.

After graduating with the ANU Master of Professional Accounting in 2021, Malieta was ready to return to Tonga and make a difference in financial services policy reforms as the Country Coordinator of UNCDF.

So, what does the future hold in store for this accomplished ANU graduate? Malieta hints at political aspirations in a position where she can continue to make her mark on the world and inspire female Tongans and others to become global leaders.