The Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Mr. Kosi Latu, is stepping down as head of the regional organisation based in Samoa.
Latu has been with SPREP since 2016 and his contract with the organisation officially ends next April
His successor, Mr. Sefanaia Nawadra, was appointed during the 30th annual SPREP meeting held in Apia this week.
Latu has had his contract extended to 3 April 2022, and will continue to serve as the Director General until Mr Nawadra assumes his new role.
Nawadra is currently the Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Pacific Office based at the SPREP Campus in Vailima, Samoa.
He is no stranger to SPREP, having worked for the Secretariat in previous years in many different roles, with his last role being the Director of the Environmental Monitoring and Governance programme before he took up his current position with UNEP.
The Secretariat’s Members – comprised of 21 Pacific island and 5 Metropolitan countries and territories, confirmed Mr Nawadra’s appointment from a pool of high calibre applications who underwent a rigorous selection process.
“SPREP Members would like to congratulate Mr Nawadra on his appointment as the new Director General, and we look forward to working with him at the helm of SPREP.
“We have every faith that he will continue the work of the great leaders who came before him in ensuring that we foster a resilient Pacific environment that will sustain our livelihoods and natural heritage in harmony with our cultures, for present and future generations,” said Mr Mika Perez of Tokelau, Chair of the 30th SPREP Meeting of Officials.