Thursday 24th December 2020
With Dr Josephine Aumea Herman’s departure tomorrow as Secretary of Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health - the Public Service Commissioner, Russell Thomas is pleased to announce that he has appointed Mr Bob Williams as the Acting Secretary of Health until the appointment of the new permanent Head of Ministry. Williams’ appointment will take effect as of 12 noon tomorrow Friday 25 December 2020.
Williams was previously employed as the CEO for the Minister of Health’s Support Office, he tendered his resignation from that position earlier today. Thomas said that “Williams brings a wealth of administrative and operational experience to this position. His journey in the Public Sector started with the Cook Islands Police Service where he served for sixteen years rising to the rank of Senior Detective at the time of his departure.”
“Williams also spent a decade in the Financial Intelligence Unit managing stakeholder relationships, policy and legislative reforms. This work helped place the Cook Islands at the forefront of having an effective framework to mitigate money laundering.”
“A short stint with the Office of the Public Service Commissioner as a Senior Policy Advisor was followed with his appointment to the Bank of the Cook Islands as the Chief Risk Officer where Williams was responsible for assessing operational, regulatory, legal, technological and financial risks across the business of the bank.”
“Williams has strong relationships across community groups in Rarotonga and in the Pa Enua. He intends to work closely with the Te Marae Ora’s Senior Management Team and their stakeholders who have all worked together to keep this nation one of the few countries that remains free of COVID-19.”
The Office of the Public Service Commissioner will support Williams and his TMO team to ensure continuity in core service delivery and support to staff is provided during this transition period.
The recruitment process for the next Secretary of Te Marae Ora began last month, with applications closing earlier today.
ENDS