The Pacific Women in Maritime Association appointed Ms. Mavis E.V. Joseph (Legal Risks & Audit Officer with the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji), a graduate of IMLI (Class of 2014-2015), as the Chairperson of the Association. In an interview with the Fiji Sun online news, Ms. Joseph acknowledged that what gave her the confidence to take on the appointment was, amongst others, the education and training she received at IMLI.

Ms. Joseph was one of the ten scholars awarded the prestigious Nippon Foundation scholarship at IMLI for the academic year 2014-2015. She was the only candidate from the Pacific region that year. In her dissertation titled ‘Climate Change and its Implications for the Resettlement of Small Island States: A Case Study on the Republic of Fiji and the Republic of Kiribati’, Ms. Joseph argued that besides the global initiatives to reduce the effect of climate change, the international community should consider developing realistic legal solutions to deal with the emerging issues, such as resettlement of States when the need arise. Her maritime legislation drafting project, ‘Maritime (Bunker) Regulations 2015’ which won her the Professor Walter Miller Prize for the Best Maritime Legislation Drafting Project, will implement the International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001 into the laws of Fiji in 2017, with the industry consultation currently underway.

On her plans for the Association, Ms. Joseph revealed as her top priority the development of a regional strategy for the empowerment and advancement of women in the Pacific maritime sector. She indicated that her Association will work on acquiring IMO fellowships at IMLI and WMU for suitably qualified women candidates from the Pacific Islands region.

Reacting to the appointment of Ms. Joseph, Professor David Attard said, “I am delighted to read her appointment. It is a reflection of her excellent expertise which I am pleased was due to her training at IMLI. I wish her success.”

The full interview of Ms. Mavis E. V. Joseph on her appointment is available at:

http://fijisun.com.fj/2016/11/16/pacwima-chairperson-talks-about-association/.