SPC appoints Amena Yauvoli to head its regional office in the Northern Pacific
Friday 8 February 2008 - Mr Amena Yauvoli, a Fiji national, has been appointed Manager of the SPC Regional Office for the Northern Pacific in
Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
'SPC's presence in the subregion will make a significant difference to the delivery of its policy and technical advice
and assistance to the people of the Northern Pacific,' said Mr Yauvoli.
Saying that he is determined to make SPC's presence in the Northern Pacific a reality and for the long term, he
continued, 'There is no better opportunity for SPC to contribute and provide real, meaningful and sustainable solutions
to the ongoing development challenges that the countries and territories of the Northern Pacific are facing.'
As Dr Jimmie Rodgers, SPC Director-General, acknowledged, 'This appointment is crucial as SPC embarks on decentralising
its presence and operations in the 22 island countries and territories of the Pacific Community. Our Northern Pacific
office is the second regional office to be established after Suva, and Amena's wide and extensive experience will be a
bonus in making concrete the relevant decisions of SPC's governing body. His appointment is a wonderful way for SPC to
better serve and effectively engage with our members in the Northern Pacific, particularly with the existing and former
US territories.'
Serving the region in this capacity is not totally new for Mr Yauvoli, who was Senior Policy Adviser at the Secretariat
of the Pacific Islands Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Apia, Samoa, in 2004–2005. From 2000 to 2003, he served
as Deputy Permanent Representative in the Fiji Mission to the United Nations in New York, where he acquired
international and regional experience on policy matters and on challenges facing the Pacific region. In his most recent
career appointment with the Fiji Government, he was the Permanent Secretary of Commerce, Industry, Investment and
Communication.
Mr Yauvoli is married with five children. He is currently working out of SPC's Suva Regional Office and will take up his
position in Pohnpei on 18 February.
ENDS