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InDepth InDepth

recognition of that amongst donors in the region and I expect communication capabilities, international relations and I
that to continue. think it’s the combination of those skills that presumably the
countries saw in me that have led me to this role.
IB: You’ve also got a diverse membership base and many I will say that in many cases SPC is an organisation that
different stages of development. That’s another potential really relies on its relationships with its stakeholders, with its
source of tension for an organisation like SPC. How would countries and the trust and being a trusted advisor in those
you address that? countries. So I will be focusing a lot of my effort not on the
Minchin: It’s about really having deep conversations with technical detail—I’ve got a fantastic staff of technical experts
the countries about what their priorities are and tailoring your that are far better than me on the technical side of things—
programs and delivery to meet those needs. It’s very clear but what I will be able to do is to work with them to explain
there are different priorities in different regions; the smaller the value of what they do to the country leaders and the
countries with atolls are dealing with immediate issues stakeholders and I think that’s perhaps a more important role
with sea level rise that some of the larger countries, it’s a for me than bringing technical knowledge.
minor issue for. Working with them to define that is really
important, and tailoring programs with donors to meet the IB: How important do you think relations with other
gaps that these countries articulate is what we’re really good CROP [Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific]
at. And I think what I’ve seen already in the three weeks I’ve agencies will be?
been here is a team that is very aware of those differences Minchin: I think it’s critical. There’s an old saying, you can
and very engaged with the countries about what these run fast alone but you run further together, and I think the
challenges are. Pacific expects us to go further. So we have to collaborate,
we have to cooperate amongst CROP agencies, the countries
IB: You’ve said your first few months will be time to cannot afford and should not tolerate duplication or
listen and learn and travel. You’ve already been in New competition between CROP agencies; we need to be working
Caledonia and you’re here [in Fiji] Where are you going studiously to make sure we are maximising the impact that
after this? the country’s investments in each of our individual CROP
Minchin: So once I’m back from Suva and I’ve really met agencies have in a synergistic way. So collaboration is really
with the staff and understood their perspectives, I’ll kick important for me and partnering across that. And I know it
off a tour of the north, particularly the Micronesia region. is for the other CROP heads as well and from what I’ve seen
I’m going to Nauru, Marshall Islands, Palau, FSM and then there is a real spirit of collaboration amongst those people.
on to Guam and the Cook Islands. I’m very cogniscent of
the fact that I am coming in from outside the region and it IB: With the regional coronavirus response, what sort of
is very important for me to not only meet the leaders of the role do you see the SPC playing, given your strong public
region and understand their perspectives but also to take the health division?
opportunity when visiting these countries to see the work that Minchin: Public health of course have been working with
SPC does on the ground and the challenges faced by the local a multi-agency response team, we ‘ve been providing our
communities there so that I build a really deep understanding laboratory expertise around testing and assisting with that,
of the challenges in the region so that I can be most effective and issuing risk advice around the PacNet program. So while
to address those. prior to this incident no one was an expert on coronavirus
per se, the role we can play in coordinating the networks
IB: So you’ll get out of the capital cities? we already have of health professionals in the region to be
Minchin: I’ll definitely get out of the capital cities; I’ll sharing information, sharing risk assessments, talking to each
be very disappointed if I was just to go and meet with the other about what each country’s own approach is to tacking
leaders and get taken from the taxi to a meeting room and this is, and we play a really important role in coordinating all
back to a hotel. I really want to meet people and see what of that communication. So I think our public health team has
they face on a daily basis and I think that’s important because been pretty busy over the last few weeks.
it’s in those kind of contexts that our staff are operating and
trying to create impact and try and address challenges. IB: So in your first three weeks, has anything surprised
you, or been completely unexpected?
IB: You have a very strong technical background coming Minchin: I wouldn’t say surprised. If anything I’ve been
from Geoscience Australia. What advantage do you think surprised at how much depth there is in the organisation and
that will give you in this new role? things that are possibly not visible from the outside, because
Minchin: It gives obvious advantages in being able to speak we possibly haven’t told the story of the value that can be
the language and hold some credibility in the technical accrued. I guess it has surprised me because it wasn’t visible
areas that SPC covers and a range of those over the years, from the outside but I’m so pleased to find it because there’s
however I don’t want to be pigeonholed as a one-trick-pony. so much opportunity to improve people’s knowledge of what
I’m not just a technical person. I started out as a technical the organisation does and has done over the last 73 years of
person; [and] I’ve built up strong stakeholder relationship, its life.

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