Fa’aso’otauloa Sam Saili is a technology expert and community leader, driving digital transformation and tech adoption in communities across the Pacific. 

With almost 30 years experience within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, Sam believes in the power of technology to empower people, and is passionate about bridging the gap between the Pacific and the global digital economy. Born and raised in the Samoan culture of “tautua” or “to serve”, it has been natural that the technology company he co-founded with his siblings – SkyEye Pacific – embraces serving for the benefit of the Pacific community with company operations in Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu. Through SkyEye, Sam aims to create a platform that enables even grassroots street vendors to participate in the global digital economy. 

Sam came to Australia in 1997, to study a Bachelor of Commerce, specialising in Management Information Systems (MIS) and Economics. He returned to Samoa and dedicated years of his career to working in IT roles in Samoa government and telecommunications organisations, before founding his company in 2016. He is steadfast in his determination to address the disparity between major technology platforms designed for developed-world infrastructures, and the unique needs and challenges faced by communities and vendors in the Pacific.  A fellow of RSA and a two-time Samoa Observer People of the Year awardee, Sam Saili is reimaging tech transformation, placing local communities and vendors in the driving seat, within the global digital economy.