25 August 2026, Apia Samoa. Peseta Noumea Simi has stepped down from her role as Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) following a distinguished public service career that spans close to 47 years.
Her journey in the public sector began in 1979 when she joined the Prime Minister’s Office.
Over the decades, she took on critical roles across government sectors, most notably serving as the Assistant Secretary for Aid and Economic Coordination within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1988 to 2003, followed by an extended period leading the Aid Coordination unit within the Ministry of Finance.
Educated in Samoa, New Zealand, and Australia, Peseta holds a Master of Business Administration, an Advanced Diploma of Business Management, and a Graduate Certificate in Management from the University of New England in Australia.
In 2015, her vast experience culminated in her appointment as the CEO of MFAT, cementing her status as Samoa’s top diplomat. In this capacity, she oversaw the nation’s global diplomatic positions and became a pivotal figure in regional Pacific diplomacy.
Her capability and leadership earned her successive reappointments by the Samoan Cabinet over the years. Her latest reappointment came in August 2025 to lead the ministry for a fourth consecutive three-year term.
Her sudden departure cuts short a contract that was initially slated to run until 2028, bringing a close to one of the most impactful careers in Samoa’s modern public service.
Sources from the Ministry told Samoa Global News, that Peseta informed the staff last week that she would be stepping down from her position, following a directive from the Prime Minister and Cabinet, asking for her resignation.
“Na faailoa mai e Peseta o ia o le a faamavae, talu ai se talosaga a le Palemia ma le kapeneta e tatau ona faamavae mai i lona tofiga.
“Peitai o lea ua matou faalogo o nei na ave ai le tusi faamavae a Peseta i le Kapeneta.”
The reasons behind Peseta’s decision to resign is not clear. At press time, a response from the Government Press had not yet been received.
However according to sources, Peseta had stood her ground in relation to the selection of overseas consular posts.
“Prime Minister and Cabinet want to appoint diaspora to those positions in Canberra, Sydney and others..” said the source.
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Alofa Grace is an Intern Reporter and Photographer with Samoa Global News. Alofa Grace is passionate about sharing stories and capturing real moments. She is a graduate of Maluafou College and hopes to continue a career as a Journalist.
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