THE Young Women Parliamentary Group (YWPG) has appointed its new Chairlady who is Ms Vanessa Rodie.
Ms Rodie’s appointment into office was made as the YWPG has been without a chairlady after the untimely passing on of former Chairlady, the Late Ms Kyera Varnel.
A statement from the YWPG said the executive nominated and then appointed Ms Rodie since July this year.
“Vanessa was a former staff of the National Parliament where she worked as a Committee Secretary for 3 years from 2013-2016. Given her experience and qualifications Ms Rodie is the perfect candidate for the job,” it was stated.
In an interview with YWPG Advisor and Chief Civic Education Officer of the National Parliament Ms Marisa Pepa, the newly appointed Chairlady Ms Rodie has explained why she has to accept her appointment.
“I am always up for a challenge. I’ve developed a passion for wanting to inflict change, not necessarily changing the status quo but strategizing on how young professional women can find innovative ways of influencing change through leadership piece by piece. In a way, this was part of the reason why I accepted this appointment. I am quite humbled to be appointed as Chairlady of YWPG,” she said.
Asked during the interview about her thoughts and plans, Ms Rodie said she looks forward to learn more from the strategic YWPG is working at especially to help influence policy and legislation.
“I want to further explore the platform that YWPG is strategically placed in. Our (YWPG’s) key focus is on influencing policy and legislation, and that is something I want to further build on how we -as a group can partake in utilizing the necessary parliamentary tools we have in our legislature. I envision YWPG to be the bridge to advocate and encourage citizens on finding that connection on Laws and policies that are being brought up to Parliament
“Overall, I foresee YWPG to be the platform to build the capacity of aspiring young women and men keen to take up leadership roles and be influential on the platform of national policies and legislation. There are rarely such platforms available which makes the group quite unique,” she added.
She said since it is the first time to hold such new position with many challenges to go with, I pledged for support from my fellow YWPG members, as well as their Patrons’ and our champions to help the group to be influential.
She said a good number of YWPG members are young ambitious career-oriented women and men who strive to inflict positive change in our country.
“This is certainly something positive for Solomon Islands. We see the importance of laws and policies bring brought today because it determines our future governance,” she added.
Meanwhile YWPG is a voluntary group based in Parliament whose members are from different works of life, who came together to network with current leaders in order to build their leadership capacity. Its aim is to influence government policies through the Parliamentary processes.
Recently joining Vanessa in the team are two other newly appointed executive members, Ms Mary Suimae and Mr Chris Baeri.
Ms Suimae is currently a volunteer teacher at the newly established Kindergarten, the St. Vincent De Paul at Burns Creek and Mr Baerii is the very first male executive member of YWPG who is a private social researcher. Gender is not about women but about the both sexes so YWPG is now including young men as well.
