PWWA Board Appoints New Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson

Apia, Samoa – 31 March 2026 The Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) is pleased to announce the appointment of new leadership following an Extraordinary Meeting of its Board of Directors held on 31 March 2026.

Elected to serve the remainder of the current three-year term are:

Chairperson: Frank Kyota, Chief Executive Officer of the Palau Public Utilities Corporation

Deputy Chairperson: Erickson Sammy, Director of the Department of Water Resources, Vanuatu

The appointments follow the resignation of Fuimaono Dominic Schwalger, former Chairperson, and Elizabeth Koteka, former Deputy Chairperson. PWWA acknowledges with sincere appreciation their dedicated service and leadership, which have played a critical role in strengthening regional collaboration and advancing the water and wastewater sector across Pacific Island countries.

In his formal acceptance, Mr. Kyota expressed his gratitude and sense of responsibility in taking on the role of Chairperson:

“I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust you have placed in me to serve as Chairman. This is a collective commitment to advancing the mission of PWWA- strengthening collaboration, elevating standards, and ensuring sustainable water and wastewater services across our Pacific communities.”

Highlighting the broader impact of the sector, Mr. Kyota highlighted the human dimension of PWWA’s work.

“Our work is not only about infrastructure, it is about safeguarding the health, dignity, and future of our people. I pledge to serve with integrity, inclusiveness, and vision, ensuring that every member’s voice contributes to shaping our shared path forward.”

Working alongside Deputy Chairperson Mr. Sammy, the new leadership will guide PWWA through its next phase of strategic implementation. This includes building on progress made under the current five-year strategic plan, while reassessing priorities and aligning future goals, initiatives, and performance measures to respond to the evolving needs of the region.

The recent PWWA Board Meeting held in Nadi, Fiji from 17–19 March 2026 reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing technical capacity, and supporting member utilities to deliver safe, reliable, and sustainable water and wastewater services.

PWWA looks forward to the leadership of Mr. Kyota and Mr. Sammy as the Association continues to build on its strong foundation and work collaboratively with members, partners, and stakeholders across the region.

ENDS