Tosimaea "Tosi" Tupua

Tosimaea "Tosi" Tupua is not merely a barrister and solicitor, he is a rare Pacific mind whose career has bridged courtrooms, newsrooms, and boardrooms with equal command. Admitted to practice in both Australia and Samoa, and currently serving as Legal Counsel to Samoa Airways, Tosi stands at the intersection of law, media, and public strategy, offering clients both technical precision and narrative control in the moments that matter most.

Born and raised in Samoa, Tosi brings a lived understanding of Pacific realities that no imported playbook can match. His work is shaped by the same values and instincts that shape the region itself: respect, patience, nuance, and timing. Clients benefit not just from his legal training, but from his ability to translate strategy into culture, and culture into outcomes.

Legal Background

Tosi holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania, and completed his legal training at Melbourne's Leo Cussen Centre for Law. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2017 and the Supreme Court of Samoa in 2018. His legal experience spans corporate governance, regulatory compliance, civil litigation, and cross-border commercial law.

Media Career

Before entering law, Tosi was a pioneering journalist and broadcaster, becoming the first Samoan and Pacific Islander to anchor English-language news for both China Central Television (CCTV-9) in Beijing and Al Jazeera English in Doha. For over two decades, he reported on politics, development, and diplomacy across the Pacific, often shaping the narrative rather than simply covering it.

Strategic Communications

Today, that media mastery is central to his work. Tosi is a trusted advisor to executives, agencies, and public institutions navigating complex communications environments, whether managing public fallout, preparing high-stakes press engagement, or guiding long-term reputation strategy. His background gives him fluency in both the legal substance and the story around it, allowing him to craft messages that are not only accurate but persuasive, culturally calibrated, and strategically timed.

Client Experience

He has advised clients across aviation, telecommunications, international development, and public sector reform, including roles with leading legal firms such as Austin Haworth and Lexon Legal. His counsel is often sought not just for what to say, but how to say it, and when to stay silent.

Language Proficiency

Fluent in Samoan, English, and Mandarin, Tosi operates confidently across linguistic and cultural boundaries, giving his clients reach, clarity, and control across multiple spheres of influence.

Strategic Edge

In a part of the world where perception often shapes policy, Tosi's fusion of legal intelligence, media instinct, and cultural fluency gives his clients a clear strategic edge.