Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai is 58 years old and has worked for 18 years as the Manager of the University of Otago Pacific Islands Centre since 2002, until she took up her new role as Pacific Community Engagement Manager for the University of Otago in January 2021 (based in Auckland). She is Samoan, and holds the high chief title of Tofilau from her village of Iva in Savaii.

She is a graduate from the University of Auckland with a BA (Women’s Studies) and an LLB. Tofilau is part of many governance Boards in the community and the University. She is a published poet and is currently working on her first book of poems.