Tafaimamao “Tafa” Tua-Tupuola is the State Director of the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the American Samoa Community College. Currently, she serves on the FEMA National Advisory Council (NAC) as a representative of disability and access functional needs. The valuable experience and representation in previous U.S. Federal Advisory Councils, such as Federal Communication Commission-Disability Advisory Council and FEMA Integrated Public Alert Warning System Subcommittee, helped weave the conversation of equity and inclusion from a Pacific Islander and disability lens in the FEMA NAC. Ms. Tua-Tupuola was recently appointed to Chair the new FEMA NAC subcommittee – Gender Based Violence in response to the Whitehouse U.S. National Plan to end Gender Base Violence.

Tafa also engages the Disability Network across the Pacific Region, addressing Pacific challenges in Human security and equity, post-disaster housing, health and economic security, resulting in systems change, capacity building, and advocacy. She is the steerperson for the Pacific Risk Management ‘Ohana (PRiMO) Health Security Hui.