The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Emma Veve, an Australian national and former deputy director general of its Southeast Asia department, as the new director general of its Pacific department (PARD). Ms. Veve officially commenced her role on Monday and is tasked with setting the vision and strategy for the department within the Pacific subregion.
In her new position, Ms. Veve will oversee the development and implementation of the forthcoming Pacific Approach 2026-2030, which serves as ADB’s overarching country partnership strategy for 12 of its 14 Pacific development members: Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. She will also guide the individual country partnership strategies for Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Expressing her enthusiasm for returning to the Pacific, Ms. Veve noted her commitment to shaping the new approach that will assist the region’s developing members in achieving their development goals. She emphasized ADB’s role as Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, focusing on combating climate change and its impacts through innovation, knowledge, and collaboration.
Before her current role, Ms. Veve played a significant part in ADB operations across the Pacific developing member countries and held senior positions in various sectors within the Pacific Department. She joined ADB in 2005, following her experience as an economic advisor with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva. Ms. Veve holds a double degree in agricultural science and economics from the University of Queensland and a master’s degree in economics from the University of New England.
This leadership change comes at a crucial time as the Pacific region grapples with various developmental challenges, and Ms. Veve’s extensive background positions her well to make a positive impact.
In summary, Emma Veve’s appointment as director general of ADB’s Pacific department marks a significant step forward for the organization as it seeks to enhance its support for Pacific nations in the coming years. Her focus on climate change, collaboration, and development strategies is a promising indication of ADB’s commitment to the region’s future.
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