Fiji’s first female Conservator of Forests, Sanjana Lal, is honored and ready to take on the role of acting Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry.
With close to 30 years of experience in the civil service, she succeeds former acting PS, Rovereto Nayacalevu, who resigned last month.
Ms. Lal holds a Bachelor of Forestry Science from the Australian National University and Postgraduate Diplomas in Business Leadership, Public Administration, and Conservation Biology from the University of the South Pacific.
She received her letter of appointment from the Public Service Commission (PSC) yesterday, expressing her humility at the honor.
“I am humbled that the PSC deemed me deserving of this post,” she said.
Though Ms. Lal had other plans, she answered the call to serve the ministry, focusing on its needs, especially with the upcoming workload leading into the new financial year in less than three weeks.
“I am also grateful for the opportunity. When the Government calls, we must step up and serve the nation. I am merely holding the fort until the ministry or PSC finds a permanent candidate for the position,” she added.
PSC chair Luke Rokovada stated that she was deserving of the appointment due to her qualifications.
“Ms. Lal has the qualifications, knowledge, and experience to assume the role, and I am confident that she will be able to perform the duties required of her as the Acting PS for Fisheries and Forestry,” he said.