Faaolo Utumapu-Utailesolo is an experienced disability rights advocate in the Pacific region and in her home country of Samoa. She is one of the founders of the disability rights movement in Samoa, having co-founded the National Disabled People’s Organization, Nuanua o le Alofa (NOLA), as well as a part of the Pacific regional movement for a number of decades. Faaolo has undertaken numerous roles including serving on the PDF Board, a member of the Samoan government disability committee and supported the emerging Deaf Association of Samoa, to name just three. Faaolo is currently the Pacific Program Officer with Disability Rights Fund. In this role, she works closely with Organisations of People with Disabilities facilitating their grants program across the Pacific. Faaolo is a former Australia Awards Scholarship recipient and an alumnus of Monash University where she completed a Masters in Media and Communications.