Rule 8 of the WCPFC Rules of Procedure outlines the election of officers. Every two years, the Commission will elect a Chair and a Vice-Chair from among the Contracting Parties, and they must be from different Contracting Parties. Elected officers take up their roles at the end of the session where they are elected and serve for two years, with an option of being re-elected for a further two years.
As a matter of practice and to progress its work, the Commission may establish intersessional working groups or other intersessional processes, and appoint leads from among the Contracting Parties to manage the work. This can include development of workplans with associated timelines and organisation of meetings that can be held in person, virtually, or through electronic communication.
The WCPFC's Officeholders as of September 2025 are listed in the table, below.
WCPFC OFFICEHOLDERS | |
|---|---|
Commission and Subsidiary Body Chairs | |
| Commission Chair Dr. Josie Tamate (Niue) | Current Term: 2025-2026 |
| Vice Chair Mr. Takumi Fukuda (Japan) | Current Term: 2025-2026 |
| Northern Committee Chair Mr. Masanori Miyahara (Japan) | Current Term: 2025-2026 |
| Northern Committee Vice Chair Vacant | |
| Scientific Committee Chair Ms. Emily Crigler (USA) | Current Term: 2024-2025 |
| Scientific Committee Vice Chair Vacant | |
| Technical and Compliance Committee Chair Mr. Mat Kertesz (Australia) | Current Term: 2025 |
| Technical and Compliance Committee Vice Chair Mr. Ilkang Na (Korea) | Current Term: 2025 |
| Finance and Administration Committee Co-Chairs Mr. David Power (Australia) and Ms. Putuh Suadela (Indonesia) | Current Term: 2024-2025 |
Intersessional Working Group Chairs and Leads of Intersessional Processes | |
| Regional Observer Programme (IWG) | Mr. Lucas Tarapik (Papua New Guinea) |
| FAD Management Options (IWG) | Mr. Jamal James (Federated States of Micronesia) |
| Electronic Reporting and Electronic Monitoring (IWG) | Ms. Lesley Hawn (United States of America) |
| South Pacific Albacore Management Roadmap (IWG) | Mr. Moses Maitaka (Fiji) |
| Port State Measures (intersessional process to review CMM 2017-02) | Mr. Meli Raicebe (Fiji) |
| High Seas Boarding and Inspection (intersessional process to develop voluntary guides) | Mr. David Power (Australia) |
| Marine Pollution (intersessional process to review CMM 2017-04) | Ms. Felicia Cull (Canada) |