Vanuatu Public Service Commission has appointed Gerard Metsan the Government Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Office of the Government (OGCIO) under the Ministry of the Prime Minister.
The appointment became effective from 3 June 2016.
Mr Metsan is a highly qualified local Ni-Vanuatu Telecoms & ICT expert and brings with him over 20 years of experience in the Vanuatu Telecoms & ICT industry with more than 12 years as an experienced IT Manager and 3 years of Project management with one of the largest Telecom Operator in Vanuatu.
He has successfully set-up and established an ICT Company operating in Vanuatu over the last five years and has previous experience working with the OGCIO as a technical consultant and UAP Project Manager at TRR (Regulators Office).
Mr Metsan replaces Fred Samuel who helped establish the OGCIO and oversee the seabed cable connection from Fiji to Vanuatu, the i-government system etc.
Mr Samuel left the position earlier this year to take up his new position as Chief Executive Officer and Director of Pacific Group Limited which is now advising the OGCIO.
In his congratulatory message, Mr Samuel urged everyone to provide Mr Metsan all the support he needs in this important role including the OGCIO team to ensure an ongoing successful operations of OGCIO and for the best interest of further development of ICT and Telecommunications Sector in Vanuatu.
“I have no doubt that Gerard will bring the Vanuatu ICT Sector to another new and improved level and will require all your support”, he said.
“As a former CIO, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the greatest support and relationship we have had together over the last five years during my tenure as Government CIO. I urge you all to render that same support to Gerard Metsan and wish him well and all the very best as he resume this new role as Government CIO”, said Mr Samuel.
The OGCIO role is to advise the Vanuatu Government, through the prime minister’s office, on all matters relating to ICT and encourage the spread of ICTs (information and communications technologies) in society to efficiently and effectively achieve an educated, healthy and wealthy Vanuatu.
Its other focus is to lead the iGov Initiative, (the Integrated Government Initiative), which uses world-class e-government solutions and ICTs to bring better service delivery methods to all ministries and agencies, and ultimately to Vanuatu’s residents and businesses.
The role of the OGCIO is also to encourage the right to information (RTI) in Vanuatu.
Photo:Mr Gerard Metsan (left) and Mr Fred Samuel (right)