The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources (MFOR) is pleased to acknowledge the participation of two members of the Kiribati Marine Spatial Planning Coordinating Committee (KMSPCC) in the Regional Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Leadership Programme coordinated by the Pacific Community (SPC).

Representing Kiribati in the programme are:

🔹 Ms. Kabure Takaria, Deputy Director, Environment and Conservation Division, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agricultural Development (MELAD)

🔹 Mr. Kaiea R. Awira, Project Manager, Phoenix Islands Marine Spatial Planning Project (CAB-SMART)

The four-month Regional MSP Leadership Programme brings together marine spatial planning practitioners from across the Pacific to strengthen leadership skills, enhance collaboration, and build the capacity needed to support effective ocean governance and sustainable marine resource management. The programme combines face-to-face learning, online coaching, webinars, and peer-to-peer engagement.

The participants recently completed the first face-to-face workshop held in Brisbane, Australia, from 1–5 June 2026. The workshop provided an opportunity to strengthen leadership competencies, exchange experiences, and build professional networks with MSP practitioners from across the Pacific region.

The programme will continue through a series of online coaching sessions and leadership webinars over the coming months before concluding with a second face-to-face workshop in Brisbane in September 2026.

MFOR congratulates Ms. Kabure Takaria and Mr. Kaiea R. Awira on their participation and acknowledges the Pacific Community (SPC) for coordinating this important regional initiative. MFOR also extends its sincere appreciation to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) for its continued support and investment in strengthening Marine Spatial Planning capacity and ocean governance across the Pacific region.

The knowledge, skills, and regional networks gained through this programme will contribute to the ongoing implementation of the Kiribati Marine Spatial Planning process and support the sustainable management of Kiribati's ocean resources for current and future generations.