18 Dec Celebrating Dr Seu’ula Johansson-Fua — Championing Pacific Education, Leadership, and Research
September 26th, 2025 – MORDI Tonga Trust is proud to honor Dr Seu’ula Johansson-Fua , a distinguished Tongan educator, scholar, and leader, for her continued contributions to Pacific education and academic excellence.
Dr Johansson-Fua, Director of the Institute of Education at the University of the South Pacific (USP) and Chair of the MORDI Tonga Trust Board, has recently been recognized as a recipient of the USP Vice-Chancellor’s Strategic Fund for Female Academics 2025. This prestigious award acknowledges her outstanding research, leadership, and commitment to advancing gender equity in academia and building Pacific-centred scholarship.
Her award-winning research project, “Mana – Leadership and Sustainability of a Pacific Regional Institution,” reflects her deep commitment to strengthening educational systems across Oceania. In this groundbreaking work, Dr Johansson-Fua explores what has made USP’s Institute of Education successful over its 50-year history, examining cultural approaches, institutional leadership, and practices that have supported resilience, relevance, and sustained impact.
What makes her work especially powerful is its Pacific grounding — combining both traditional Pacific methodologies such as talanoa and Pacific research ethics with contemporary academic inquiry. Dr Johansson-Fua brings an authentic Pacific voice to academic research, encouraging fellow women scholars to embrace their identity, culture, and lived experiences as strengths in their academic journeys.
Beyond her research, Dr Johansson-Fua has been a transformative figure in Pacific education for decades. She has championed research that values indigenous knowledge systems, relationality, and community engagement — forging pathways for more inclusive and culturally meaningful approaches to teaching, leadership, and policy across the region.
Her role at USP is matched by her leadership at MORDI Tonga Trust, where she brings strategic insight and a values-driven approach to governance. Dr Johansson-Fua’s vision inspires us all to uphold excellence while staying rooted in the communities we serve.
Please join us in celebrating Dr Seu’ula Johansson-Fua — a visionary leader whose work not only elevates Pacific scholarship but also strengthens the future of education, research, and leadership across the Pacific. Fa’afetai lahi for your dedication, passion, and enduring commitment to our region.
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