Lu’isa Uai Taunga has served at the Ministry of MEIDECC within the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO) since 2016. Her current role now is the Senior Assistant Secretary and the HOD for the Research and Training Division within NDRMO. Her team works extensively in conducting CBDRM to local communities in partnership with stakeholders to ensure GEDSI is integrated into community plans.
In addition, Lu’isa on behalf of NDRMO is chair of the Tsunami Technical Working Group – where they lead in the designing and conducting of Tsunami Risk Reduction Activities including tsunami drills.
She was also the Emergency Operation Centre Operation Manager during the response to the Hunga Tonga Hunga Ha’apai Disaster 2022, which was in operation January 14 – April 14, 2024.
She is the author of the “Here Comes the Cyclones” and the “Peaukula” books, part of a disaster series aimed at providing disaster preparedness and response messages,
Prior to her current role she has served as the Officer in Charge for MEIDECC at the district of Ha’apai since 2018 – 2021. She was also the Climate Change Disaster Risk Management Program Officer under the UNDP Pacific Risk Resilience Program in NEMO from 2016 – 2018.
Lu’isa has served as a former teacher since 2001 – 2012.