The Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Ms. Vasiti Soko, has successfully completed the Vanguard Executive Crisis Leaders Fellowship – 2024 program offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Ms. Soko was among 25 senior crisis leaders selected for FEMA’s executive leadership cohort, which focused on innovative approaches to crisis and emergency management. Notably, she is the first Pacific Islander and Fijian to participate in this training.
Crisis and emergency management are constantly evolving fields. These highly trained professionals tackle a variety of challenges ranging from pandemic responses to addressing homelessness and facilitating refugee resettlement, all while leading cross-functional teams to impose order during chaotic situations. This role also includes traditional emergency response efforts related to natural disasters caused by extreme weather.
Since becoming the head of the NDMO in 2019, Ms. Soko has proven to be a proficient leader in emergency management, achieving several significant milestones. Her accomplishments include establishing Fiji’s National Emergency Response Team (NERT), ratifying various laws, and finalizing the National Disaster Management Act for the country.
The FEMA Vanguard cohort comprised some of the most influential and experienced leaders in crisis management, including emergency management directors from state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, corporate leaders, philanthropic executives, and various elected officials.
The program, developed by FEMA in partnership with the RAND Corporation and McChrystal Group, aimed to foster connections that would enhance the country’s ability to prepare for, anticipate, and manage crises effectively.