Dr Potoae Roberts Aiafi has worked in the Pacific for 17 years serving in various roles both in the public and private sectors. She is currently working as Samoa Country Representative for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Regional Pacific Leadership Program which support various local organisations, groups, coalitions and individuals across the Pacific in their exercise of developmental leadership.

She is a part-time senior lecturer at the National University of Samoa teaching public policy as part of the postgraduate development studies. Potoae was a public servant for 11 years before venturing into research, teaching, consultancy and independent advisory roles. She has worked on donor supported policy reform projects such as the Samoa Public Service Commission Institutional Strengthening Program, Samoa Police Project, and Pacific Leadership Program.

Potoae obtained her PhD from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand in 2016. Her research include comparative public policy, development policy, public management and administration, and human resource management with a particular interest in issues facing Pacific islands. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in Economics and Econometrics from Victoria University of Wellington and a Master of Public Policy and Management from Monash University, Australia.