NOUMEA, 24 JUNE 2019 (SPC) — Australian Dr. Stuart Minchin has been appointed Director-General of the Pacific Community.
The decision was announced at the conclusion of the 11th Conference of the Pacific Community Friday, in Noumea, New Caledonia.
He will take up an initial two-year term to represent SPC’s members as they pursue scientific, technical and other activities in support of their national sustainable development targets.
Dr. Minchin takes on the role in a region where adaption and resilience are increasingly in focus, due to the growing threat of climate change, and its impacts on Pacific communities. Pacific Island counties and territories are increasingly looking at regional development approaches as a means of strengthening national objectives. SPC, as a Pacific member-owned and member-driven organization, will play a central role in supporting members’ efforts to deliver a sustainable Pacific through the “Blue Pacific” vision.
Speaking after the announcement Dr. Minchin expressed his commitment to serving the people of the Pacific in his new role. “I feel honored to have been given the opportunity to serve the Pacific Community as Director-General. I look forward to working with the member countries and administrations, regional stakeholders, and the organization’s dedicated and talented staff to progress the Mission of the Pacific Community. In a time of enormous challenges as well as great opportunities, I hope to play my part in helping the Pacific Community navigate these waters to a brighter future.”
Dr. Minchin previously served as Chief of the Environmental Geoscience Division of Geoscience Australia, a center of expertise in the Australian Government for environmental earth science issues and the custodian of national environmental geoscience data, information, and knowledge. He has represented Australia in key international forums and has been the Principal Delegate to both the UN Global Geospatial Information Management Group of Experts (UNGGIM) and the Intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO).
Dr. Minchin will officially take up his new role as the organization’s 22nd Director-General at the end of 2019, succeeding Dr Colin Tukuitonga, who has held the position since 2013.
The Pacific Community was created in 1947 and remains the largest and longest-serving regional development organization in the Pacific. The organization is focused on development issues within the context of the region, including climate change, disaster risk management, food security, gender equality, human rights, non-communicable diseases, and youth employment. SPC facilitates the sharing of technical experience and knowledge and helps to implement specific development projects and activities in support of its Pacific members.
Source: PACNEWS
