Charissa Suli

Charissa Suli is an Australian minister who is the President of the Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) since 11 July 2024, for a three-year term. She is the youngest person and first person of colour to serve in this role. She is also the second ordained woman to hold this position.

Career Suli was called to ministry as part of the Cecil Gribble Tongan Congregation, Dee Why Uniting Church. Suli was ordained in 2014 and served at Dapto Uniting Church, New South Wales.

Suli was cross cultural consultant in the NSW/ACT Synod's Board of Mission. She has been the convener of the Tongan National Conference, specialising in mentoring youth and young adults and creating bridges between first and second generation Tongans in Australia.

Suli has been working as a National Consultant in the Assembly Resourcing Unit for the UCA.

Election On 18 July 2021, it was announced that Suli had been selected as the President-Elect, succeeding Sharon Hollis in the role. Hollis was the first ordained woman to serve in this role. The first woman to serve as President was Jill Tabart, (1994–1997).

Suli along with Michelle Cook and Viniana Ravetali were the final nominations meaning that the 16th president would be a woman, regardless of the final vote.

Family Suli and her husband, Langi, have four children.