Speaker — Neptune Forum 2026
Moetai Brotherson
President, French Polynesia
President of French Polynesia (via videoconference)
French Polynesia
Moetai Brotherson became the 18th President of French Polynesia on 12 May 2023 following his election by the Assembly of French Polynesia after the 2023 legislative election. Born in Papeete and raised in Punaauia, Tahiti, he graduated from the École internationale des sciences du traitement de l’information in 1990 with a master’s degree in computer science. He worked in France, Japan, Germany, and the United States before returning to Tahiti after the September 11 attacks. Back in French Polynesia, he served as an advisor to politician Émile Vernaudon, headed the Post and Telecommunications department from 2005 to 2008, and later became chief of staff to Vice President Antony Géros from 2011 to 2013. He also worked as an opposition spokesperson. Elected municipal councillor of Faaa in 2008 under Mayor Oscar Temaru, he served until 2020 and was deputy mayor from 2014 to 2017. In 2017, he was elected to the French National Assembly, becoming the first member of Tāvini Huiraʻatira to hold that role. He is also the author of the 2007 novel Le Roi absent and participated in the 2010 O Tahiti Nui Freedom expedition from Tahiti to Shanghai.
