Baravilala named among top 50 global tech leaders for 2026

Tupoutuah Baravilala, director‑general of the Ministry of Policing and Communications, has been named among the Top 50 Global Tech Leaders for 2026 by the Tech Diplomacy Global Institute, marking Fiji’s first inclusion on the prestigious international list.

The recognition places Fiji alongside leading global players in technology governance and digital diplomacy.

This reflects the country’s growing influence in international discussions on cybersecurity, digital inclusion and emerging technologies.

The Tech Diplomacy Global Institute, established in collaboration with UNESCO, is a global platform that promotes inclusive, ethical and coordinated approaches to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and digital trade.

Its annual list recognises leaders who have demonstrated impact in advancing technology policy and strengthening international cooperation.

Ms Baravilala currently oversees Fiji’s digital policy framework, communications infrastructure and national cybersecurity coordination.

She has served in senior public service roles for more than a decade under both the FijiFirst and Coalition governments.

During the FijiFirst administration, Ms Baravilala played a central role in the digitalisation of government services.

She led the development of digitalFIJI, a secure single sign‑on platform that allows citizens and businesses to access multiple government services online, including civil registration and company registration.

She also oversaw the deployment of digital systems that supported Fiji’s response to the COVID‑19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of government services during movement restrictions.

Her tenure coincided with major connectivity improvements, including the expansion of mobile broadband coverage to about 95 per cent nationwide, full digital television coverage, the Southern Cross NEXT submarine cable upgrade, and fibre‑optic connectivity between Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Under the Coalition Government, Ms Baravilala has continued to lead Fiji’s digital transformation agenda, including the development of the country’s first National Digital Strategy 2025–2030, which sets priorities for digital inclusion, e‑government services, cybersecurity resilience and digital economic growth.

Cybersecurity remains a key focus of her work. In June 2024, she formally lodged Fiji’s accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, later becoming the first Pacific Island nation to sign its Second Additional Protocol.

Ms Baravilala is a qualified lawyer and continues to represent Fiji at regional and international technology and cybersecurity forums.