PRESS RELEASE

13 August 2013

For immediate release

Pacific Cooperation Foundation CEO to take up senior position at DOC

Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) Chief Executive Markerita (Meg) Poutasi is moving on to take up a senior position at the Department of Conservation (DOC), as Director of Conservation Partnerships in Auckland in October.

PCF Chairman Peter Kiely says “Meg has led the organisation through a growth period, solidifying some key partnerships between the public and private sectors for Pacific regional growth. Her achievements will leave a lasting legacy, and the Foundation wishes her well in her new position”.

Of Samoan and European descent, Ms Poutasi joined the Foundation in January 2009. During her time as Chief Executive, she travelled extensively across the Pacific, building partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Her work has also involved the delivery of several key initiatives including the launch of the regional True Pacific quality mark, two series of Pacific Showcase Marketplace events (2011 and 2013), and regional trade and investment summits including the Brother International Pacific Wave: Weathering the Economic Storm Conference in 2009, the InvestSamoa Conference and Fisheries Forum in 2012 and the Pacific Energy Summit in March this year.

Ms Poutasi has a legal background having worked as an Associate Crown Counsel at the Crown Law Office (NZ) and in the private sector practicing in civil matters. She was also a founding member of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation Board of Trustees.

The PCF Board of Trustees is now in the process of appointing a new Chief Executive.

ENDS

ABOUT PACIFIC COOPERATION FOUNDATION (PCF)
The Pacific Cooperation Foundation is an independent public/private sector trust whose mission is to support Pacific Cooperation objectives in niche areas with economic linkage in line with New Zealand’s policy objectives. Formed in 2002, PCF was formally launched by the Governor General in August 2003. The Foundation leverages relationships to promote wealth creation in Pacific communities by cooperating with, coordinating and connecting with the public and private sectors. www.pcf.org.nz

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