Samoan woman secures top role

01 July 2016, 12:00AM

A Samoan woman has landed a top role in the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (C.T.O). 

Gisa Fuatai Purcell has been named one of two regional advisors on I.C.T by the organisation.

Whereas Gisa is the Regional Advisor for the South Pacific, Dr. Marianne Treschow is the Regional Advisor for Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

The announcement was made by the C.T.O Secretary-General, Shola Taylor.

Gisa is the former Head of the I.T.U’s Division on L.D.Cs, S.I.D.S, and L.L.D.Cs; Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction; and Emergency Telecommunication. 

She was the first woman to lead this division and the first Pacific Island person to have worked at the I.T.U Headquarters in Geneva. 

She successfully managed many projects around the world including early warning systems using I.C.Ts, satellite connectivity, I.C.T capacity building and I.C.T infrastructure including submarine cables. 

She has a Master of Commerce and Administration from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Treschow and Ms. Purcell,” said Shola Taylor. 

“The C.T.O’s mandate to coordinate Commonwealth positions at international I.C.T events necessitates us staying up-to-date with regional issues, and our Regional Advisors will ensure our engagement in these areas.”

The C.T.O’s activities throughout the Commonwealth cross national and regional boundaries, but there is a need for the Organisation to stay abreast of the regional priorities of its members.

Dr. Marianne Treschow is the former Director-General and member of the Board of the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (P.T.S). 

She is also senior advisor to Ericsson Group; advisor, Europe to VoIPSolutions; founder and C.E.O of TreschowConsulting; European expert to Global Network Women in ICT (WITNET); member of the Royal Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA); and member of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs.

About the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation

The Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (C.T.O) is the oldest and largest Commonwealth intergovernmental organisation in the field of information and communication technologies.

 Although our history can be traced back to 1901 with the establishment of the Pacific Cable Board, the organisation has only existed in its present form as an intergovernmental treaty organisation since 1967. 

With a diverse membership spanning developed and least developed countries, small island developing states, and more recently also the private sector and civil society, the C.T.O aims to become a trusted partner for sustainable development for all through I.C.Ts.

01 July 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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