APTC appoints new Country Director for Vanuatu and Nauru

21 Feb 2019

The Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Anna Naupa as the new Country Director for Vanuatu and Nauru.

Ms Naupa, who took up her new role in December 2018, joins APTC from the UNESCAP - Pacific Office in Fiji. She has a wealth of experience in development policy, programming and political economic analysis and has also served as a senior regional adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.

As APTC's first ni-Vanuatu Country Director, Ms Naupa will be using her extensive experience in engaging with Pacific Island governments, civil society organisations and development partners across the region. 

"I look forward to contributing to strengthening APTC's engagement with TVET stakeholders in Vanuatu and Nauru. I am especially looking forward to the opportunities for reaching new audiences, while building on the valuable relationships we already have, including engaging with our more than 1,800 ni-Vanuatu APTC Alumni," she said.

Ms Naupa is joined by Ms Natasha Murray, APTC's new Vocational Training Manager for Vanuatu and Nauru. Ms Murray has over 12 years' experience of working in TVET in remote regions of Australia, with broad knowledge of Australian training packages and qualifications and relationship building skills. 

The new appointments are part of the new leadership team for APTC's phase 3. In this phase, APTC will continue to deliver high quality, internationally recognised training that ensures graduates have improved employment outcomes, with an enhanced focus on supporting greater investment in skills training and higher quality Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) delivery across the Pacific. 

Welcoming Ms Naupa and Ms Murray, APTC's Chief Executive Officer, Ms Soli Middleby, said she looks forward to seeing the dynamic duo lead APTC's efforts in helping raise the profile of TVET in Vanuatu and Nauru. 

"The appointments bring new skills, experience and networks to complement our existing team and ensure that we are well-positioned to take forward the ambitions of APTC in its third stage and contribute even more to Pacific prosperity through partnerships," she added. 

APTC is Australia's flagship program for training excellence, helping Pacific Island citizens gain Australian skills and qualifications for a wide range of vocational careers. Around 13,000 graduates have graduated from APTC since it began operation in 2007.