We are delighted to announce our Member of the Month, Ana Tuiketei.

Ana Tuiketei is an international lawyer and arbitrator and the first Listed Pacific Counsel with the International Criminal Court (The Hague). Ana is admitted to the Tongan and Fijian Bar.

Ana was also elected to the ICC Bar Association General Assembly to the Defense and Membership Committee, another first for the Pacific.   She is also the only female Pacific Islander listed as an Arbitrator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Ana is the Deputy Director of the Institute of Small and Micro States and fellow with the Forum for International Conciliation & Arbitration. 

Ana sits on various Fijian and Regional Boards including the Fiji Employment Relations Advisory Board, Fiji Sports Council; Fiji Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Save the Children’s Fund Fiji, and the Fiji Exporters Council.  She is a Heart Ambassador for the internationally recognized Sai Prema Foundation Fiji that is creating a world-class facility with the aim of providing the best possible surgery and free treatment to the children of the Pacific. She is also in the UK Commonwealth Secretariat Task Force on International Arbitration.  Ana recently joined the IMMAF Anti-Doping Disciplinary Committee.

How did you get involved in sports law?

I have been involved in sports for a very long time;  as an athlete when I was in school and after graduation I became involved as a volunteer, administrator, advisor, trainer, and board member.  I have now been involved in sports for 20 years.

When I worked at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions I  was appointed as the Head of the Fiji Rugby League Appeals Committee and I had to preside over appeals.  I then also served as a Board Member for 5 years with the Fiji Rugby League.  I was also the Legal Commercial Advisor to the Fiji Rugby Union Board,  served on their Legal Panel and was part of their Good Governance Sub-Committee.  I then trained and became an accredited World Rugby Judicial Officer.

I also served as a trainer and legal advisor for the Fiji National Sports Commission, and I now sit as a board member for the Fiji sports Council.

What are your most memorable achievements in the sector?

Being the only female Pacific Islander listed as an Arbitrator with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

I am currently a World Rugby Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship recipient.

Being the only Fijian female accredited World Rugby Judicial Officer and one of only two pacific women that are Oceania Judicial Officers.

Being the only Oceania International Rugby League Independent Chair. Also being listed as an Arbitrator and Anti-Doping Disciplinary Panel member with International Mixed Martial Arts Federation. 

In 2017 I was awarded the Medal of the Order of Fiji by the President of Fiji for my national contribution.

 Any advice for someone wanting to break into the sector?

Get involved in whatever way you can because safer sport for all makes our world a better place.  Also, sport is fun and when you’re having fun it doesn’t feel like work at all.

Greatest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

There are pressures to adhere to gender-role stereotypes which still influence the way females are viewed within many societies. The passion to see gender equity in sports has always been a motivator for for me and I  look forward to the day women’s leadership in sports is normalised.

Right now, sports like rugby is like a religion in the Pacific so I can’t wait to obtain my ‘train the trainers’ certificate and have more JOs, specifically women be involved.

 Why did you focus on sports law?

There are not enough female sports lawyers and women leaders in sports.  The more women who take positive, leading roles in sports, the more women will see that gender inequalities can be overcome – not only in sports but in all professions. 

If you weren’t a sports lawyer, what would you be and why?

I am that passionate I would still be involved in sports somehow or the other.