Delilah Kekea Homelo becomes the first female CEO of Solomon Power, bringing extensive experience in leadership and finance.
Solomon Power has appointed Delilah Kekea Homelo as its new Chief Executive Officer, making her the first woman to lead the state-owned electricity provider.
The appointment was announced by the Chairman of the Board, David K.C. Quan, who stated that Mrs. Homelo’s selection followed a comprehensive recruitment process. Her appointment is effective immediately.
Mrs. Homelo, a Solomon Islands national from Guadalcanal and Malaita, has more than 14 years of experience in management and leadership within the electricity sector, as well as in banking and finance. Before her appointment, she served as Deputy CEO and General Manager of Customer Services at Solomon Power. She has also previously held the role of Chief Financial Officer.
Following the retirement of the previous CEO in August 2024, Mrs. Homelo had been serving as Acting CEO until her official appointment.
A Certified Practicing Accountant with CPA Australia, Mrs. Homelo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Information Systems from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji. She is also a Council Member of the Institute of Solomon Islands Accountants and has represented Solomon Power on the Pacific Power Association Board.
Her background includes participation in leadership and energy sector training programs, including Women in Leadership, Renewable & Sustainable Energy, and Energy Transition Planning. She has also been a speaker at leadership forums.
Mrs. Homelo’s appointment marks a significant step forward for women in leadership roles in the Solomon Islands, where female representation in executive positions remains limited. Her achievement aligns with recent findings in the Leadership Matters 2024: Benchmarking Women in Business Leadership in the Pacific report, which found that the proportion of women in business leadership in the Solomon Islands has increased in recent years. Between 2021 and 2024, the percentage of women directors in the country rose from 11 percent to 21 percent, while the proportion of female CEOs grew from 7 percent to 24 percent.
The Solomon Power Board expressed confidence in Mrs. Homelo’s ability to guide the company through a period of growth and development, particularly in transitioning towards renewable energy sources.
“We look forward to working closely with Delilah as she leads Solomon Power in fulfilling its mission of providing a safe, reliable, affordable, and accessible electricity supply to the Solomon Islands,” said Mr. Quan.
With Solomon Power
