2019 Endeavour Executive Leadership Award

Principal Coastal Engineer Matt Blacka, recipient of a Endeavour Executive Leadership AwardCongratulations to WRL Principal Coastal Engineer Matt Blacka on receiving a prestigious 2019 Endeavour Executive Leadership Award, announced last week by the Federal Minister for Education, The Hon Dan Tehan. 

The Australian Government’s Endeavour Leadership Program aims to "enhance Australia's reputation for excellence in international education through the continued internationalisation of the education, training and research sectors", by providing the opportunity "for established and emerging leaders to undertake a global mobility experience within their study, research or professional field".

This award will enable Matt to undertake a range of leadership activities in the Pacific Islands later this year, focused on researching and growing professional development and training opportunities for practitioners in the field of coastal management and related climate change resilience throughout the Pacific.

Over the past ten years, Matt has developed strong connections while working in the Pacific Islands on projects in the fields of coastal management, coastal protection and evaluating coastal hazards to island communities.

“This award will provide me with the opportunity to work directly with people in the Pacific; to better understand their training needs and map out the pathways that will enable them to meet their own unique coastal management challenges in the face of climate change. Integrated management of coastal areas, underpinned by traditional knowledge, science and engineering is essential for island communities, and building networks between grass roots practitioners of the Pacific and scientists across the region will help support this initiative”. Matt said of this outstanding opportunity.

During his time in the Pacific, Matt will be hosted by two key organisations: the Cook Islands Government’s Office of the Prime Minister (Climate Change Cook Islands); and the Geoscience, Energy and Maritime Division of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Fiji, SPC being the principal scientific and technical organisation across the Pacific region.

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