Francis Bugotu

Francis Bugotu (27 June 1937 – 9 July 1992) was a Solomon Islands public servant, diplomat, and educationist. He served two terms as the country's permanent representative to the United Nations, and was also secretary-general of the South Pacific Commission from 1982 to 1986.

Early life Bugotu was born in Guadalcanal. He attended St. Mary's School, Maravovo, and All Hallows' School, Ugi Island. He later completed further studies in New Zealand at St. Stephen's College, Auckland, and Ardmore Teachers' Training College. Bugotu taught at All Hallows' School for one year before becoming a schools inspector with the Diocese of Melanesia (1959–1960). He was appointed to the Legislative Council of the Solomon Islands in 1960, serving until 1962.

Academia Bugotu became an officer in the Education Department in 1962, and in 1964 moved to Scotland to attend Moray House School of Education, completing a diploma in the teaching of English as a second language. He lectured at the British Solomons Training College from 1964 to 1968, and also carried out research into the Lengo (Tadhimboko) language. He attended a three-month course at the University of Queensland in 1967, and from 1970 to 1971 studied at the University of Lancaster in England, becoming the first Solomon Islander to complete a Master of Arts degree.

Bugotu was the inaugural Permanent Representative of the Solomon Islands to the United Nations, and accompanied Prime Minister Peter Kenilorea at the ceremony celebrating the country's admission as the 150th UN member. In July 1982, he was chosen as Secretary-General of the South Pacific Commission, the first Solomon Islander to hold the position. He was responsible for the organisation's decision to allow non-sovereign states to join, thereby significantly increasing its membership. His term was extended by two years in October 1984, the first time that had occurred. He was replaced by colleague diplomat Bernard Bata'anisia in New York from August 1992.