The World Meteorological Organization has elected Mr ‘Ofa Fa’anunu, Tonga Meteorological Director, as the new Regional Association Five (RAV) President, with Mr Tauala Katea, Director of Tuvalu Meteorological Services elected as Vice President.
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| Tonga Met Director and new president of WMO RAV, Mr. Ofa Faanunu (photo credit: Tonga Met Services) |
This was announced at the recent WMO RAV-17 Meeting in Nuku’alofa last month which focused on accelerating climate change adaptation and improved multi-hazard early warning systems to increase resilience to extreme weather.
The WMO RAV region covers the vast expanse of the South-West Pacific Ocean, north of the Equator and eastern parts of the Indian Ocean. The key aim of each of the Regional Associations spearheaded by the WMO Development and Regional Activities Department (DRA) is to support National Meteorological Hydrological Services (NMHS) to provide critical weather, climate and weather information services to the various socio-economic sectors in their countries. The RAV currently has 23 member countries including Pacific islands, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Timor Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and United States of America.
Mr. Fa’anunu and Mr. Katea are also active members of the Pacific Meteorological Council (PMC) as a specialised subsidiary body of the SPREP Meeting which provides policy relevant advice on needs and priorities related to meteorology related fields.
SPREP Director General, Mr. Kosi Latu has congratulated both directors saying “It is a great honor that I extend on behalf of SPREP sincere congratulations on your successful election and appointment as the President of the WMO RAV and Mr. Tauala Katea as Vice President”
“It goes without saying that your leadership in the region and the PMC has been instrumental in shaping some of the priorities for the Pacific and your new role offers a unique opportunity to align the work of the WMO RAV to the activities of the PMC”. Mr. Latu expressed.
Mr. Faanunu is the first Tongan to be elected and has been involved in the WMO RAV for a number of years. He succeeds Andi Eka Sakya of Indonesia and will be taking over the presidency role for the next four years.
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| Tonga Met, WMO Rep Mr. Henry Taiki, Tuvalu Met Director & new WMO RAV Vice President, Tonga Met & new President of WMO RAV Mr. Ofa Faanunu, Samoa Met Director, Mr. Mulipola Titimaea, SPREP Rep Mr. Salesa Nihmei (Photo credit Molly Powers, SPC) |