PORT VILA, 21^st  November 2024

The Chairman of the Vanuatu Public Service Commission, Mr. Martin Raoul Mahe was unanimously voted as the Chairman of the Pacific Public Service Regional Governance Board (RGB) taking over from member country-New Zealand on November 18, 2024.

The Pacific Public Service Regional Governance Board is the governing body of the Regional Public Service which is made up of Public Service members from the Pacific Island countries including New Zealand and Australia. The board's goals are to: Address the government succession plan, provide technical advice on specific skills, focus on areas for improvement, and Upskill the PSC in the Pacific region.

Over seventy public service leaders and senior officials from 16 Pacific member countries are currently attending the Pacific Public Service Leaders’ Conference: FONO 2024 in Apia, Samoa from the 18th to 21st November 2024. The annual meeting is hosted by the Samoa Public Service Commission in collaboration with the New Zealand Public Service Fale with the theme ‘“A resilient workforce achieving public service excellence the Pacific Way” that aims to foster dialogue, share insights, and explore innovative strategies tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities in the Pacific region. During the conference, 16 member countries in the Pacific gave their support and unanimously voted Mr. Mahe as the Chairman of the Regional Governance Board, this is a first for the Vanuatu to hold such position in the region. In addition, the Acting Secretary of the Vanuatu Public Service Commission, Mr. Jonathan Iavere was also voted in as a member of the Regional Governance Board representing the Melanesia Sub-regional Public Service Caucus alongside another member from Fiji’s PSC. Essentially, the mandate of the Chairman of the Pacific Public Service Regional Governance Board is to strengthen public administration and management of its institutions, and to facilitate exchange of knowledge, skill and to foster relationship building between Pacific countries and territories.

The Acting Secretary of the Office of the Public Service Commission, Mr. Jonathan Iavere mentioned that in the last FALE Governance board meeting in November 2023 till the FONO 2024, they have lobbied for Vanuatu to be elected as the RGB chairman. The regional Public Service Commission Governance Board was previously chaired by Associate Professor Hon. Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban DNZM. Hon. Laban is a former New Zealand politician with a Samoan heritage. 

The Pacific Public Service Regional Governance Board (PPSRGB) is established to ensure building and maintenance of a stronger relationship of trust and confidence, respect for each other, partners and stakeholders, committed to ongoing learning to broaden understanding of the Pacific and its frameworks and tools. It also stands as a role model of best practice by facilitating and delivering high quality, Pacific culture -appropriate and fit for purpose solutions.

Moreover, RGB’s 2025 strategic approach is to strengthen a service centre of excellence and a strong resilient public service through three core platform: Digital Connectivity, Leadership Development and Strengthen Governance. Digital connectivity ensures PPSC’s maintain relationships, enable collaboration and facilitate information and resource sharing.

The RGB’s leadership development bolsters leadership, systems and processes to achieve more effective, efficient and responsive public services through professional and organizational development programs. And to ensure strengthening of governance, the RGB endeavours to support public service system change using regional best practice to enhance transparency, public trust and accountability through system reforms and standards.

The New Zealand Public Service and the Fale secretariat is working with the Pacific Public Service Commissioners to adhere to the six (6) principal Core Values which are respect, reciprocity, relationships, integrity, confidentiality and honour. Thus, the RGB chairman is mandated to ensure that the flow of information to all Public Service Commission in the region must be effective and efficient.

Mr. Martin Mahe has served as the PSC Chairman for a period of seven (7) years to date overseeing public service operations while also holding roles in the Judicial and Police Service Commissions in Vanuatu. Mr. Mahe is robustly leading the reform programs under the Vanuatu PSC to strengthen and enhanced service delivery to the citizens of Vanuatu.

PSC Chairman, Mr. Martin Mahe as the Chairman of the Public Service Commission Regional Governance Board is well deserved and is a testament to Vanuatu Public Service Commission’s exceptional leadership skills and unwavering determination.