Launch of the inaugural GREG URWIN awards
PRESS STATEMENT(49/09)
5TH AUGUST 2009
LAUNCH OF THE INAUGURAL GREG URWIN AWARDS
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade today announced the names of the first five recipients of the inaugural Greg Urwin Awards.
The Greg Urwin Awards were established last year in memory of the late Secretary General of the Forum, with the support of the Australian Government. They will be awarded annually by the Forum to emerging Pacific Islander leaders in a range of fields. The awards provide recipients with the opportunity to gain professional experience in their chosen vocational fields through short term attachments and placements in relevant organisations.
Speaking from the annual Forum Leaders’ meeting in Cairns, Australia, the Secretary General, Mr Slade congratulated award winners Mr Ravin Lal (Fiji), Ms Akka Maroti Rimon (Kiribati), Mr Michael Tenisi So’onalole (Samoa), Mr Tevita Tukunga (Tonga), and Dr Therisa Lei (Papua New Guinea).
In acknowledging the significance of the occasion, Mr Slade encouraged the recipients to embrace the possibilities the awards offered to further their vocational skills.
“These individuals provide a great example of the range of talent and potential we have in the Pacific. We expect they will excel in their chosen careers and make meaningful and lasting contributions to their countries and the Pacific more generally.”
The five award winners were drawn from a broad field of candidates who were currently undertaking higher level academic studies as part of the Australian Leadership Awards scholarship programme. They were chosen through a competitive process that considered academic performance, leadership qualities and areas of professional interest, in particular, those areas that would be of significant benefit to Pacific Island Countries.
“Mr Urwin would have been proud of the quality of candidates that have been drawn to the Award. He was an ardent supporter of Pacific aspirations and believed strongly in the potential that Pacific Islanders could achieve if given access to those opportunities and resources that are more readily found in other parts of the world. I have no doubt these recipients, and those that follow, will do justice to Mr Urwin’s vision,” says Secretary General Mr Slade.
The inaugural awards will support vocational placements in a range of areas including, heath policy, oncology, education, law and engineering. The award winners will begin taking up their placements in 2010.
ENDS.
For further details please contact Mr Edward Vrkic via email on edwardv@forumsec.org.fj
Note to Editors:
The Greg Urwin Awards will provide financial support for recipients to take up work place attachments for several months with either a Pacific Regional organisation or an Australian organisation that best suits their particular career aspirations and future leadership potential.
Summary Bios of the five recipients are presented below:
Mr Ravin Lal
Mr Lal is a lecturer in Physiology and Convernor of the Sports Science Program at the University of the South Pacific in Suva. He is presently undertaking a PHD at Griffith University in Queensland under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship in the field of Exercise Physiology and Health. Mr Lal is studying the impact of sport and exercise in improving recovery and rehabilitation in breast cancer survivors.
Ms Akka Maroti Rimon
Ms Rimon is a Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education in Kiribati. She aspires to a senior leadership position within the Government of Kiribati. She is presently studying for a Masters of Public Administration at the University of Sydney under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship.
Mr Michael Tenisi So’onalole
Mr So’onalole is currently a Superintendent of Police in the Ministry of Police and Prisons in Samoa. On return to Samoa, he has been appointed as Officer-in –Charge of a number of Police divisions within the Ministry. Mr So’onalole is currently studying for a Masters in Law in the field of Law, Justice and Law Enforcement at the University of New South Wales in Sydney under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship.
Mr Tevita Tukunga
Mr Tukunga is an Energy Specialist and former National Energy Planner with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and the Environment in Tonga. He is responsible for developing and evaluating national energy policy for Tonga. Mr Tukunga is presently studying for a PHD in Electrical Engineering at the University of New South Wales in Sydney under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship. His research topic is on removing barriers to renewable energy technologies through clean energy initiatives, with past work on photo-voltaic energy development.
Dr Therisa Lei
Dr Lei is the Medical Officer in Charge of Accident and Emergency /Adult Outpatient Department at Goroka General Hospital in the Eastern Highland Province of PNG. She is presently studying for a Masters degree in Health and Medical Law at the University of Melbourne. Dr Lei proposes to use her degree to establish a Legal Division within the PNG Health Department to handle medico-legal issues and State medical litigation.
5TH AUGUST 2009
LAUNCH OF THE INAUGURAL GREG URWIN AWARDS
The Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Tuiloma Neroni Slade today announced the names of the first five recipients of the inaugural Greg Urwin Awards.
The Greg Urwin Awards were established last year in memory of the late Secretary General of the Forum, with the support of the Australian Government. They will be awarded annually by the Forum to emerging Pacific Islander leaders in a range of fields. The awards provide recipients with the opportunity to gain professional experience in their chosen vocational fields through short term attachments and placements in relevant organisations.
Speaking from the annual Forum Leaders’ meeting in Cairns, Australia, the Secretary General, Mr Slade congratulated award winners Mr Ravin Lal (Fiji), Ms Akka Maroti Rimon (Kiribati), Mr Michael Tenisi So’onalole (Samoa), Mr Tevita Tukunga (Tonga), and Dr Therisa Lei (Papua New Guinea).
In acknowledging the significance of the occasion, Mr Slade encouraged the recipients to embrace the possibilities the awards offered to further their vocational skills.
“These individuals provide a great example of the range of talent and potential we have in the Pacific. We expect they will excel in their chosen careers and make meaningful and lasting contributions to their countries and the Pacific more generally.”
The five award winners were drawn from a broad field of candidates who were currently undertaking higher level academic studies as part of the Australian Leadership Awards scholarship programme. They were chosen through a competitive process that considered academic performance, leadership qualities and areas of professional interest, in particular, those areas that would be of significant benefit to Pacific Island Countries.
“Mr Urwin would have been proud of the quality of candidates that have been drawn to the Award. He was an ardent supporter of Pacific aspirations and believed strongly in the potential that Pacific Islanders could achieve if given access to those opportunities and resources that are more readily found in other parts of the world. I have no doubt these recipients, and those that follow, will do justice to Mr Urwin’s vision,” says Secretary General Mr Slade.
The inaugural awards will support vocational placements in a range of areas including, heath policy, oncology, education, law and engineering. The award winners will begin taking up their placements in 2010.
ENDS.
For further details please contact Mr Edward Vrkic via email on edwardv@forumsec.org.fj
Note to Editors:
The Greg Urwin Awards will provide financial support for recipients to take up work place attachments for several months with either a Pacific Regional organisation or an Australian organisation that best suits their particular career aspirations and future leadership potential.
Summary Bios of the five recipients are presented below:
Mr Ravin Lal
Mr Lal is a lecturer in Physiology and Convernor of the Sports Science Program at the University of the South Pacific in Suva. He is presently undertaking a PHD at Griffith University in Queensland under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship in the field of Exercise Physiology and Health. Mr Lal is studying the impact of sport and exercise in improving recovery and rehabilitation in breast cancer survivors.
Ms Akka Maroti Rimon
Ms Rimon is a Senior Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Education in Kiribati. She aspires to a senior leadership position within the Government of Kiribati. She is presently studying for a Masters of Public Administration at the University of Sydney under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship.
Mr Michael Tenisi So’onalole
Mr So’onalole is currently a Superintendent of Police in the Ministry of Police and Prisons in Samoa. On return to Samoa, he has been appointed as Officer-in –Charge of a number of Police divisions within the Ministry. Mr So’onalole is currently studying for a Masters in Law in the field of Law, Justice and Law Enforcement at the University of New South Wales in Sydney under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship.
Mr Tevita Tukunga
Mr Tukunga is an Energy Specialist and former National Energy Planner with the Ministry of Lands, Survey, Natural Resources and the Environment in Tonga. He is responsible for developing and evaluating national energy policy for Tonga. Mr Tukunga is presently studying for a PHD in Electrical Engineering at the University of New South Wales in Sydney under an Australian Leadership Award scholarship. His research topic is on removing barriers to renewable energy technologies through clean energy initiatives, with past work on photo-voltaic energy development.
Dr Therisa Lei
Dr Lei is the Medical Officer in Charge of Accident and Emergency /Adult Outpatient Department at Goroka General Hospital in the Eastern Highland Province of PNG. She is presently studying for a Masters degree in Health and Medical Law at the University of Melbourne. Dr Lei proposes to use her degree to establish a Legal Division within the PNG Health Department to handle medico-legal issues and State medical litigation.
