Previous Board Members

Todd grew up on a small farm in Pennsylvania. He met his Tongan-born wife ‘Anau, in 2008, while was living in New Zealand. They married in Tonga in 2010, and Todd has had an ongoing relationship with the Friendly Islands ever since!

Over the past decade, Todd has been involved in a number of projects, in Tonga, relating to photography, filmmaking, rural development, climate change, education, and deportation. Todd has a great passion for the Tongan language and culture and he most enjoys late-night discussions around the kumete with friends.

He hold a bachelors in anthropology and education from Lincoln University (USA), and a masters in environment and society from the University Of Waikato (NZ). He is currently a climate change disaster risk management coordinator for MORDI TT.

Todd, ‘Anau and their two children are currently living in Auckland, New Zealand and they hope to relocate back to Tonga in the near future.

Harrison Siegel is a Director at Social Finance, where he develops impact financing models to drive greater economic mobility and global health outcomes.

Prior to joining Social Finance, Harrison worked with the social enterprise finance team at the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Quantified Ventures, an outcomes-based capital firm. Before working in impact finance, Harrison began his career as a life sciences consultant at Huron Consulting Group and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga.

Harrison holds an MA in International Development & Economics from Johns Hopkins University – School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a BA in History from Washington University in St. Louis.

Shanda is a lawyer specializing in the representation of financial institutions in litigation matters and investigations.

She is currently Senior Vice President & Senior Company Counsel for a large financial institution. Previously, she was a partner at the law firm K&L Gates LLP. Shanda graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pittsburgh Law Review. Before heading to law school, Shanda graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology.

Throughout her legal career, Shanda has led or served on various committees and organizations focused on the development of women lawyers.

Shanda lives in Highland, Maryland with her husband (board member, Roy Varghese) and their children, Kristen and Joshua.

Tu’amelie Mahe served as a Primary school teacher in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2000 -2014. He started as a Senior Assistant Teacher Diplomate in Niuafo’ou Island at GPS ‘Alele’uta for 3 years and then became the principal of GPS Tongamama’o for another three years. He was also a teacher at GPS Popua in Tongatapu but attached at the main office for 2 years at the Filing system Units.

He was then transferred to ‘Eua where he worked at GPS Ta’anga and became the principal of the school for several years. With the help of PCV Chiara Collette, Tu’amelie started studying for his bachelor’s of Education in 2013 before traveling to Fiji, on a New Zealand Aid scholarship award for three years for further studies at the University of the South Pacific, where he graduated with a Bachelor in Education.

After his tstudies were completed, Tu’amelie became an Education Officer for school grant and asset management at the Ministry of Education and Training in Tonga, a position which he continues to serve.

Tu’amelie is originally from the island of Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga. He enjoys teaching, traveling, and watching movies.

Neomai Maka is a high school teacher in Auckland, New Zealand.

She was born and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand. Her parents originate from the villages of Fua’amotu and Tatakamotonga in Tonga. She comes from a family with 6 siblings the youngest being her adopted 6 year old sister who is the centre of her world.

She has a varied background in education and advocacy. From being the cultural officer in the Pacific Island Students Association to being the President of The Red Cross student branch at The University of Auckland. She has also been an Engineering Student Ambassador for the University. She has joined various mentoring programmes from the university working with high school students to provide extra tutoring and career advice.

She spent her first year of teaching overseas in Tonga at Queen Salote College. While she was there she volunteered for Camp Glow which was a programme aimed at empowering Tongan girls to goal set and aim for self-improvement.

Neomai is passionate about helping her community in whatever way she can. She has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity. She has been the Auckland-Manukau Youth Convenor for the Methodist Church of New Zealand and has a long history of working with youth in Vahefonua – The Tongan branch of the Methodist Church of New Zealand.

Her hobbies include coffee, reading and writing. Neomai is passionate about travelling – she has travelled around the Middle East, Europe, the Pacific Islands and America on her own. Neomai is a cultural freak and loves learning about different people and cultural practices when she travels.

Lee Hartle is a Certified Public Accountant and manager at Aronson LLC, based in Rockville, MD. He provides a range of full service assurance services including accounting consulting and financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations. Prior to working at Aronson, he worked in the public sector at the United States Postal Service in their accounting and finance department focusing on process improvement and risk management. He obtained a B.S. in Accountancy at Penn State University.

Lee focuses his expertise on working with nonprofit and technology companies. He is passionate about education and supports those organizations and companies that try to improve the educational circumstances for children. He has experience working with and advising a variety of private school institutions and educational technology companies.

Reimen is an Australian legal practitioner and worked with the Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAID) for 2 years as a court official in the Tongan superior courts in Tongatapu and on circuit to the outer islands. Prior to his appointment in Tonga, Reimen worked in Cambodia at a UN-backed war crimes tribunal and in private practice in Australia.

While he currently practices predominantly in civil, commercial and international litigation in the Australasian region, Reimen continues to maintain close ties with the Tongan community in Australia and Tonga. He also maintains close ties with communities in South East Asia and the Pacific (particularly Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and the Philippines) where he grew up, worked and lived.

Reimen holds a degrees in law and arts from the University of Queensland, and is presently undertaking a Masters in Science with the University of London, Royal Holloway College.

Reimen is passionate about access to justice, promoting diversity, and strengthening the capacity of judicial and legal institutions to promote the rule of law and human rights in international development. He brings a wealth of experience to FoT as well as significant logistical assistance with coordinating projects on the ground in Tonga.

As a fun fact, Reimen is the first (and to date, only) non-Tongan or Palangi lawyer to be admitted to practice at the Tongan bar.

Katie Tongia served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2013-2015. During her service, Katie taught English at Vava’u Side School, co-directed Camp GLOW & GROW, volunteered at the Neiafu public library and local university, and coached girls’ soccer teams.

Katie is FIEFIA LAHI (very happy) to be a part of the Friendly Islands family. She now works at Peace Corps Headquarters in the Inter-America and Pacific Region.

Autumn Thomas served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga from 2013-2015 through Peace Corps’ Masters International program. While also serving as an English Literacy Facilitator in the villages of Faleloa and Hoi she had the opportunity to volunteer with the United Nations Development Program and Tonga’s Government Sustainability Program on projects focusing on women and youth participation in local governance.

Autumn holds a bachelor’s degree in social science education from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in International and Comparative Education from Florida State University. She currently works as a Project Coordinator for an international development NGO where she works on education programs in Central Asia and the Middle East.

Michael DeVito served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tonga from 2016-2018. As a volunteer, he worked as an English Language Facilitator in the capitol, Nuku’alofa, at St. Francis of Assist Primary School. During his time in Tonga, Michael was able to work alongside Tongans to execute and deliver sustainable projects focusing in cross-cultural diversity, inclusive education, and climate change.

Since serving with the Peace Corps, Michael began working for the international non-profit PAX Program of Academic Exchange. Here, Michael works alongside other global citizens that place international high school students with American Host Families for an academic school year.

Michael is also a part-time student at New York University, where he is studying at the Center for Global Affairs, pursing a Masters in Global Affairs, with a concentration in International Development and Humanitarian Assistance.

Michael was born and raised in Mamaroneck, New York, where he currently resides.

Peter Gray served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tonga from 2012-2014. Based in Niutoua, he taught English and worked with primary school teachers to promote student-centered classroom activities.

After leaving Tonga, Peter completed a master’s degree in information science at the University of Michigan. He now works as a user experience researcher in New York.

Joesph served in Holonga, Vava’u from 2012 – 2014. He taught English to 7-10 year-olds at the elementary school in the village. He was also able to create a training for teachers at all the elementary schools on the island to certify them in first aid and provide family planning information.

He and another volunteer started a sleep-away camp to help to educate young men about sexual and general health, women’s rights, and being an involved citizen.

He currently works at the Department of Housing and Urban Development as a Loan Finance Officer helping local governments get access to the capital markets to get funding for community and economic development projects.

He currently is a graduate student at NYU studying Urban Planning.

Katy served in Tonga from 2012-2014 in Ha’atu’a, ‘Eua.

She worked at the local primary school where she partnered with her Tongan counterparts to teach English and Physical Education.

She currently works at Peace Corps Headquarters in the Department of Volunteer Recruitment and Selection as a Special Assistant to the Associate Director and previously as a Management Analyst and Assistant on the department’s administrative team.

She is originally from Boston, MA and loves running and world geography.