Contributing to the Success of Pacific Governments and Business Enterprises    
 

KVA Consult, based in Apia, Samoa, provides consultancy services on economic issues throughout the Pacific region.  KVA Consult provides multidisciplinary expertise in strategic planning and policy formulation.  KVA Consult’s strength is in the provision of practical solutions based on extensive experience in decision-making processes within Pacific government and business enterprises.

Kolone Vaai, Co- Managing Director
Kolone Vaai was Financial Secretary for the Government of Samoa for seven years until 1991, when he established his own consulting business. He has been team leader for a wide range of consultancy assignments involving national strategic plans, sectoral development strategies, financial and economic feasibility studies, strategic corporate plans marketing plans and human resource development plans.  Kolone has served on a large number of Boards, Commissions and national Committees, many of which he has chaired.  

Epa Tuioti, Co- Managing Director

Epa Tuioti served as Financial Secretary for the Government of Samoa for nine years, from 1990-1999.  Prior to that, he had a successful career in the office of the Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank, Manila Philippines. As Financial Secretary Epa took a leading role in the successful economic and financial reforms of the 1990s. Joining KVAConsult in 1999, Epa brought into the team a dynamic approach to advising clients on financial and economic reforms in the Pacific.  Epa has chaired and served on a wide range of Boards, Commissions and national Committees.  A specialist in institutional development and capacity building, he has been in a number of major institutional strengthening projects.

Interact Consulting, based in Auckland, New Zealand, provides consulting and training services in trade facilitation, specialising in technical barriers to trade.  Interact offers capacity building and awareness-raising in all aspects of international trade relationships, including the WTO and regional and bilateral trade agreements.  Interact also provides human resource management services, specialising in executive recruitment, and services in proposal writing and project management. 

Heather Baigent, Director
Heather Baigent has a sound background in international trade issues and in technical requirements for market access, an in-depth knowledge of government systems and a network of contacts throughout the Asia Pacific region.   A former New Zealand diplomat, Heather has had postings in Samoa, Indonesia and as Deputy Head of Mission at the New Zealand Embassy in China.   Subsequently, she worked for five years as International Manager for New Zealand’s technical accreditation authority, where she became closely involved in international standards and conformance issues.  Since 1999, Heather has run her own consulting business, specialising in trade facilitation, and has undertaken studies and capacity building courses in a number of countries in the region.  She is active in export-oriented business councils and industry groups.

Blackburn Croft & Co Limited is an Auckland-based trade consultancy providing advice on Customs and trade law, regulation and Government policy, principally in the New Zealand and Australian jurisdictions.  The company commenced operation in 1991 and has acted for a variety of public and private companies in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, the United States, Asia and the Pacific.  The company has also undertaken assignments in the Pacific, including studies on Rules of Origin and Standards and Conformance.

Jeff Blackburn, Director
After initially practising as a lawyer, Jeff Blackburn has spent the last 25 years advising on Customs and trade law, regulation and Government policy.  He has acted for manufacturers and importers in numerous dumping, subsidy and safeguard actions in New Zealand and Australia, and has advised extensively on all aspects of Customs law including valuation, Rules of Origin, tariff classification, concessionary entry and GST.  Advice has been provided to overseas governments on issues of trade law and policy in New Zealand.  He also provides advice on the implications of the various bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements that have been or are being negotiated by New Zealand and Australia.  He has appeared before the Customs Appeal Authority in a number of cases and has represented companies before Parliamentary Select Committees. 

Jules Croft, Director
Jules Croft has been providing advice on Customs, economic and trade regulatory policy issues for more than 25 years.  In addition to operating extensively in the New Zealand and Australian jurisdictions, he has also carried out numerous assignments in South East Asia, the United States and Europe.  He has been involved in a number of dumping, subsidy and safeguard investigations both in New Zealand and Australia, and has represented New Zealand interests in subsidy investigations brought by the US Government.  Advice has been provided to foreign governments on various aspects of New Zealand’s trade law and administration.  Jules is an expert in Rules of Origin, Customs valuation and interpretation of trade agreements, and has represented numerous companies before Parliamentary Select Committees and the Customs Appeal Authority.