BY JUNELYN KELLY

Aaron Bara Pitaqae has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs (MWYCFA).
Mr Pitaqae is no stranger to the Ministry, having served in several senior leadership roles, including Deputy Secretary and Director of Research, Policy Planning and Information, a statement by the Government Communications Unit (GCU) yesterday said.
His appointment reflects continuity, institutional knowledge, and a strong commitment to advancing the Ministry’s mandate to promote gender equality, protect children and families, and empower women and youth across the country, the GCU statement said.
Pitaqae has held senior positions within the Solomon Islands Government, including Chief Planning Officer in the Social Sector Division at the Ministry of Development Planning and Aid Coordination.
His career also spans the education sector, where he served as a senior secondary school teacher, head of department, and local tutor with the University of the South Pacific, contributing to human capital development at both secondary and tertiary levels, GCU said.
Pitaqae holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Wollongong in Australia, along with Bachelor’s Degrees in Arts, Management and Public Administration, Sociology, and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific, GCU said.
His academic background is complemented by professional training in project management, monitoring and evaluation, humanitarian assistance, disaster response, and gender statistics.
Pitaqae has been actively involved in community and civic leadership, serving in various capacities within tribal development committees, alumni associations, and civil society groups, reflecting his long-standing advocacy for education, social responsibility, and community development, GCU said.
As Permanent Secretary, Pitaqae is expected to provide strategic leadership to strengthen policy implementation, service delivery, and coordination across government and development partners, in line with national priorities and the Government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development.