The Office of the Public Service Commission has announced the appointment of Mrs. Cherol Ala IANNA as the new Director General on Monday 25^th August 2025.

Her appointment was conferred by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission Mr. Martin Mahe, witnessed by PSC Secretary Mr. James Melteres, Deputy Secretary Mr. Stephane Bong and Principal Employment Services Mr. Bonnie David.

Mrs. Ala is a seasoned senior public sector leader with over 20 years of experience in shaping national policy, leading institutional reform, and coordinating intergovernmental at the highest levels of government.

She previously served as Director General in the Prime Minister’s Office of Vanuatu from November 2022 to March 2025. Prior to this, Mrs. Ala was the Director General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Vanuatu, from 2016 to October 2022.

The Chairman Mr. Martin Raoul Mahe, congratulated Mrs. Ala on her new appointment.

“On behalf of the Public Service Commission, I would like to congratulate you on your appointment as Director General of the Ministry of Youth, Justice and Community Services,” said Mr. Mahe. “With your extensive experience and dedication to public service, the Commission is confident in your ability to lead this important ministry. The scope of the Ministry is vast, overseeing many citizens, especially the youth who are often marginalized. One of your key responsibilities will be to advance government policies that support youth training initiatives, such as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), to better prepare them for participation in the national workforce.”

Director General Ala expressed her gratitude to the Public Service Commission and all those present at her appointment.

“I thank everyone who has supported me and the Commission for placing their trust and confidence in me to lead the Ministry of Youth, Justice and Community Services,” Mrs. Ala said.

She acknowledged the Ministry’s growth and the importance of collaboration: “The ministry has expanded significantly, and I am confident that with my experience and the collaboration of the Public Service Commission and the existing departments within the ministry, we will drive forward meaningful progress for the benefit of our country.”

Mrs. Ala also highlighted the strength of her team: “I believe in the strength of our team and their commitment to work collaboratively to achieve significant advancements within the Ministry,” she added.

Her appointment has taken place at the Office Public Service Commission in Port Vila and she has commenced her duties into the month of September 2025.

Port Vila – Staff of the Office Public Service Commission (OPSC) have commenced a week-long training from 25th of August, at the OPSC Office Conference Room in Port Vila. The training has ended on Friday, 29 August 2025.

The training was facilitated by the Vanuatu Bureau of Statistics (VBOS) and includes contributions from key officials: Deputy Chief Statistician Mr. Charlington Leo, Manager of the Social and Environment Section Mr. Jimmy Tamkela, and Manager of Statistical Leadership Coordination Mr. Roger Smithy, along with other VBOS staff with coordination provided through the Vanuatu Institute of Public Administration and Management (VIPAM), the training arm of the OPSC.

In his opening remarks, the Secretary of the Office of the Public Service Commission, Mr. James Melteres, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of data in improving public service management and accurate data handling within the public service.

“This training is a great opportunity for the Public Service Commission. We manage a vast amount of data, and this training will help ensure it is correctly and clearly entered,” said Mr. Melteres.

Mr. Tamkela explained that the training aims to build a foundational understanding of statistics stressing that effective policy-making depends on credible data.

“We can’t make any policy decisions without reliable datasets,” he stated.

The sessions focused on the Structure and Mandate of the VBOS, the Vanuatu Statistics Act, and their alignment with the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) and its policy framework. Other sessions of that day also explored the Importance of Statistical Data, Key Statistical Terminologies, and the Fundamentals of Data Analysis, concluding with a focus on Statistical Terminology.

The training continued through the week and ended on Friday 29th August 2025 with practical sessions to equip OPSC staff with skills to improve data quality, strengthen monitoring and evaluation, and enhance evidence-based decision-making across government.

Organisational change is never comfortable. Change is itself inherently risky.

If change is ambitiously addressing the way things were by trying to move organisations to the way things could be – then this change agenda needs to be supported not only by political will but by public understanding for those willing to advocate for attitudinal, operational and organisational transformation.

Nor does broad institutional change occur quickly, especially if redressing long established ways of doing things and especially when organisational innovation initiatives are as extensive as that currently underway in Vanuatu’s Public Service. Critical to these reforms is the provision of accountability and good leadership.

Removal of Immunity to ensure they are accountable to the lies…

PORT VILA, APRIL 10^th, 2025. The Office of the Public Service Commission through the office of the Acting Secretary- Mr. Stephane Bong wishes to express its deep concern over the ongoing and deliberate online provocation directed at the Public Service Commission over the recent Ombudsman Public Report publication on April 08^th, 2025.