Lord Fatafehi Fakafānua is a distinguished Tongan noble and politician, currently serving as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga. Born on March 20, 1985, he is the 8th holder of the Fakafānua title, one of Tonga's 33 hereditary noble titles, which encompasses estates in Maʻufanga (Tongatapu), Ngaʻakau (Vavaʻu), and Faleloa (Haʻapai).
His political career commenced in 2008 when he was elected as the Noble Representative for Haʻapai, making him the youngest member ever of the Tongan Parliament at that time . In 2012, at the age of 27, he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, becoming the youngest person to hold this position in Tonga's history. After a brief hiatus from Parliament between 2014 and 2017 to pursue further education, he was re-elected as Speaker in 2017 and again in 2021.
As Speaker, Lord Fakafānua has been instrumental in implementing significant political reforms, advocating for increased representation of women and youth in Parliament, addressing issues related to illicit drugs, and preserving Tonga’s unique land tenure system . He has also represented Tonga in international forums, including serving on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive Committee and facilitating Tonga's membership in the Inter-Parliamentary Union as its 164th member. His leadership continues to shape Tonga's legislative landscape, emphasizing democratic principles, cultural preservation, and proactive engagement in global parliamentary discourse.