The following is part of a Q&A series on the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)’s staff. In this series, we will be introducing you to members of our SPREP team, giving you an opportunity to learn more about what we do.
Mr Ainsof So’o is employed at SPREP as the Systems Developer and Analyst. Ainsof is tasked with ensuring that accurate and up-to-date information is available for informed decision making. He is one of five people who make up SPREP’s Information Technology division.
Q: How do you work with our Members to ensure accurate and up-to-date information is available for informed decision making?
A: I provide advice on and build information systems to collect and maintain accurate and up-to-date data and information.
Q: What are your three biggest achievements with SPREP for our Members?
A: My three biggest achievements to date would be developing and maintaining information systems and portals for our Members for easy access to resources such as the Pacific Climate Change Portal, Pacific Islands Protected Areas Portal; setting up a data publishing platform for the Pacific and assisting countries and organisations in publishing their biodiversity data; and also developing and maintaining information systems for tracking and reporting on SPREP resources, for example, Performance Appraisals, Project Management and Country Missions.
Q: What are one or two highlights of working at SPREP?
A: One highlight of working at SPREP is enhancing the livelihoods of our Pacific people by supporting projects and countries with on-the-ground activities. Secondly, meeting and working with people from the Pacific and around the world.
Q: Where have you seen your work make a positive difference?
A: In the field of Meteorology, we have seen an increase in demand for specialised IT training on Linux, scripting and Drupal to help Pacific meteorological officers better maintain and support their IT systems, since its inauguration in 2014.
Q: What words of advice do you have for people to make our environment a better one?
A: Keep electronic copies of your surveys and research and make use of Pacific-owned data portals to publish your data. It can be as simple as taking a picture with your phone and sending it via Facebook messenger.
Q: What words of advice do you have for people who would like to work at SPREP?
A: Stay at the top of your game and involve yourself with the community. Eventually an opportunity will become available.