You recently got appointed the Regional Director of the Polynesia Regional Office (PRO). How did your background prepare you for the new role? Throughout my 26+ years of career, I have garnered invaluable expertise working at national, regional, and international levels, collaborating closely with Pacific countries and territories. My primary focus has been on supporting and providing technical assistance to political leaders, decision-makers, and senior government officials, equipping them with the necessary policy and strategic development tools and capabilities to drive sustainable development and fulfil the aspirations of the Pacific people in the areas of cultural evolution, gender equality and youth development.
Drawing upon my experience, skills, and solid service orientation, I can substantially contribute to the leadership of the Polynesia Regional Office at the strategic, operations and management levels.
Besides leading the PRO, I was the Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Women, Community, and Social Development (MWCSD) in Samoa from 2009 to 2015, and I also served as the Director of SPC’s Social Development Programme in championing the work on culture and gender across SPC and Pacific Island countries, from 2015 - 2020.
What inspired you to take on this position?
New is exciting, and the fact that I was building something from scratch, having access to a platform that will lead to enhanced connection and engagement with our members, and being on the ground making a difference inspired me to take on this position.
Polynesia is a melting pot of different cultures; how did your interactions with the people and communities of Polynesia shape your understanding of their needs and priorities?
It all starts with listening to our people’s needs. It helps me formulate strategies to build stronger communities, develop comprehensive solutions, and create a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Also, it was always my goal to work alongside SPC’s Polynesian Member Countries (PMC) to drive the establishment of this new SPC PRO because this is about facilitating member ownership of the PRO. Not only that, but it is also about enhancing connections, nurturing relationships, and building trust as critical pathways towards gaining a better understanding of the needs and aspirations of our PMCs, and how SPC could be best positioned to respond to member needs and aspirations.
It’s a demanding job. How do you plan to balance the demands of your role as Polynesia Director with your personal interests and passions?
I remind myself that for me to achieve my goals and to be successful in my role as Regional Director for Polynesia, I need work-life balance and I need to look after myself.
How do you see the new regional office contributing to the development and growth of Polynesia, and what role do you think SPC can play in this?
The PRO will have a crucial role in facilitating sustainable development and fostering growth in Polynesia by improving programme integration, strengthening engagement by being closer to our members, harnessing and establishing connections across different sectors to leverage our presence and service delivery across Polynesia. The office also promotes collaboration among islands and enhances coordination on a local level. While SPC programmes and services focus on specific sectors, the value added by the PRO lies in offering a comprehensive perspective of SPC's activities across all industries and providing an overarching view of the situation on the ground. This broader outlook not only assists in our coordination efforts but will also identify linkages and connections across sectors and amongst partners so we are more coordinated and connected in how we deliver and offer services to our members as SPC, as CROP and as partners in Polynesia.
How will you ensure that the work of the Polynesia Regional Office is aligned with SPC's overall values and mission?
The PRO operations align with SPC's overarching mission and values. As an integral part of One SPC, our actions in Polynesia remain steadfastly committed to the organisational agenda. This signifies that every endeavour we undertake in the Polynesia sub-region is inextricably linked to SPC, and we do not stray from our shared and collective One-SPC agenda.
How do you plan to engage with and involve local communities?
We will engage with and involve local communities in the work of the PRO through our relevant projects and programmes in the different sectors. Recently, I delivered open remarks on behalf of SPC at the Pacific Seeds for Life Project Training in Tonga. The training is called “Save Our Seeds”, and targets what they call ‘Seed Champions’ for the Tonga seed system. The champions include Vaini Research Station, Mainstreaming of Rural Development Innovation (MORDI), Hango College, Tonga National Youth Council (TNYC), Women farmers groups, Church groups, Seed entrepreneurs, local farmers and the Ministry of Trade and Economic Development. This is an example of how we will engage and involve local communities in the work of the PRO/SPC.
In addition to these events, we will also reach local communities through the various platforms we will use to implement our Lali Communication and Engagement Strategy and the different communication platforms we host across SPC.
Lastly, our in-person engagements with our members, including local communities, are a significant aspect of how we build, foster and maintain relationships, and we will continue to build on our networks and these existing relationships to sustain our connections and engagements with our members across all sectors and at all levels.
During your address at the launch event of the PRO, you mentioned a Samoan proverb. Can you please tell us more about this proverb, how it relates to SPC and how it relates to you personally?
Ia ulimasao le laau a Nafanua is a Samoan proverb which emanated from a Samoan legend about Nafanua, the Samoan Goddess of War. When she went to battle, one of the weapons (la’au) she used was called ‘Uli-ma-sao’ – ‘Uli’ means to steer, and ‘Sao’ means to escape danger. As Nafanua engaged in battle, the weapons she used helped her escape danger.
This proverb resonates with our value of Kaitiakitanga/ Stewardship and the importance of our stewardship role as an organisation in leading sustainable development in the Pacific.
For the PRO, we play the role of “Fa’atonutonu Folau” or navigators as SPC’s office in Polynesia. Faʻatonutonu folau is a concept that comes from folauga, or Samoan voyaging or navigation, and it refers to one who gives directions in the boat and is applied to an experienced sea person who watches the wind and weather and gives directions to the crew. It is also symbolic of the work of the PRO, providing advice and guidance on the direction of services and programming by SPC for Polynesia, guided by the voices of the Polynesian master ocean navigators representing our people. It speaks to the relational existence of Pacific people and their connection to the land and ocean and is an important reminder of how Pacific people, including Polynesians, view the world and how that translates to engagement in programme and service delivery.
Ia ulimasao le la’au a Nafanua therefore reflects our collective prayer, that as we navigate the Blue Pacific Ocean in serving our Polynesian people, we shall steer with wisdom, and as we do, we will escape danger and overcome challenges, as we paddle our canoe into the future.
Comments