An accomplished Pacific education leader has been appointed to the role of South Pacific Division (SPD) education director.
Dr Elisapesi Manson takes over from Dr Malcolm Coulson, after he was appointed Avondale University vice-chancellor in early July.
“We’re very pleased to have Dr Elisapesi Manson as the new SPD education director,” said Dr Coulson. “She is incredibly well qualified, very well researched, very articulate, a very good organiser. She’s also very familiar with our tertiary education system, which is key to this role, and has done a lot of work to help us develop quality in our schools and in our tertiary systems.”
With more than 25 years of service to Adventist education across the Pacific, Dr Manson has held various leadership roles and earned degrees from prestigious institutions, including the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales.
Most recently she’s been the education consultant for Adventist Schools in Tonga and has been doing significant work in the areas of Adventist identity and ethos in Pacific schools.
As a lecturer at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, her research focused on inclusive education, cognitive psychology, mathematics education and gender equality.
Dr Manson has secured more than $A1 million in research and professional development grants, contributing to teacher training and inclusive practices throughout the Pacific.
Appointed by the SPD executive committee in August, it took some time for Dr Manson to relocate but she has now commenced the role, based at SPD headquarters in Wahroonga, NSW.
