The Forum Fisheries Agency has announced the appointment of New Zealander Matt Hooper as its incoming deputy director general.
Its director general James Movick confirmed the new appointment from Manila saying Mr Hooper would bring significant experience in Pacific tuna fisheries to the role.
The Forum Fisheries Agency's incoming deputy director general Matt Hooper. Photo: FFA
Mr Hooper, who will take up the role early next year, spent part of his childhood in Tokelau and began his career in New Zealand fisheries in 1996.
He came from a role with the New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as the Counsellor (Primary Industries) and Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), based at the New Zealand Embassy in Rome.
The FFA plays an important advisory role to its 17 Pacific island members on the management, surveillance and control of their off-shore fisheries.
Mr Movick said the selection committee was impressed by Hooper's experience in leading inter-agency and multi-disciplinary teams in both national and international negotiations and advocacy at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels.
He said that, like his predecessor, he had an open and collaborative relationship management style suited to FFA's multi-cultural setting.
The Forum Fisheries Agency's outgoing deputy director general Wez Norris. Photo: FFA
In making the announcement Mr Movick also thanked his outgoing deputy Wez Norris for what he described as "an extraordinary level of service during which he made an impressive contribution to regional fisheries which will have a lasting impact".
The Director General himself will also be completing his own six-year term at the helm of the agency later next year.