Mr. Mason Smith - IUCN’s new Regional Director for Oceania

As Regional Director, Mason’s mandate includes:

1. overseeing the implementation, evaluation and reporting of multi-year programmes for IUCN's work in Oceania, in line with IUCN's global programme and business model,
2. representing IUCN in the region to promote IUCN's mission and enhance the status of the Union among decision-making bodies, intergovernmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector,
3. leading initiatives and dialogues on key issues of conservation policy based on IUCN's regional and global priorities,
4. developing and maintaining long-term fund generation strategies and nurturing relations with the donor community, and
5. effectively and credibly leading ORO’s management team and staff in pursuing our mission, adhering to high performance standards, our Code of Conduct, internal policies and sound programmatic, financial and people management practices. 

Mason will take on these tasks, working with the support of the new IUCN Hub based in ARO/Thailand which will provide HR, Finance, IT and programmatic support to ORO.

Mason is a graduate of the University of Canberra and holds a Masters in Management in Defence Studies (MMDS) and a post graduate certificate in Diplomacy from the University of Fiji. He is also a fellow of the Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies. He has served in various capacities in the private sector, the Government, including a stint as Fiji’s acting head of Mission at the United Nations in New York and as Permanent Secretary for Agriculture. He has also served on various boards and is currently engaged in a number of community service projects. He is also actively involved with raising awareness and funds to treat prostate cancer in Fiji. His hobbies include keeping fit, playing sports, gardening, fishing and reading. He is married and has three daughters and two sons.    

We congratulate Mason and welcome him in this new role.