For the first time ever, The University of the South Pacific (U.S.P.) will have a Chief Operating Officer and former registrar Walter Fraser has been appointed to the post.

Mr. Fraser’s appointment was finalised at the recently held USP Council meeting in Apia.

With Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia’s status with the Fiji Government still a sticking point, Mr Fraser is expected to carry out a majority of the operational tasks from the university's main office in Suva.

Prof. Ahluwalia remains at the Alafua Campus in Samoa where he has been managing the affairs of the region’s biggest university remotely.

Mr. Fraser has expertise in strategic change leadership and operational service delivery with over 30 years of experience in the tertiary education sector in New Zealand and the Pacific, with the last 20 years at senior management and executive level.

He will join the U.S.P. from the Auckland University of Technology (A.U.T.) where he has been Assistant Vice-Chancellor for its South Campus in Manukau.

Prior to his A.U.T. appointment, Mr. Fraser was Director of the Centre for Pacific Studies and the Director of Pacific Strategy and Engagement at The University of Auckland. Mr Fraser was also Registrar at the U.S.P. from 2001 to 2009.

“I acknowledge that we stand on the shoulders of great Pacific leaders who had the foresight and fortitude to set up this invaluable institution as their legacy for our region,” Mr. Fraser said.

“As a proud alumnus, I look forward to contributing to the ongoing development of U.S.P. so that our future generations will also look back and remember us as responsible guardians of this legacy”.

Also announced by the U.S.P. Council was the appointment of Professor Janusz Jankowski as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President.

Professor Jankowski has expertise in Health, Research, Innovation, Education and Government Policy in Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Prior to this appointment, Prof. Jankowski was the Chair of Board at the University College Osteopathy in London.