FORMER Water Authority of Fiji (WAF)chief executive officer Opetaia Ravai has been voted into the Pacific Water and Wastewater Association (PWWA) board despite being terminated as WAF boss in December last year.
The association made the announcement during its 11th Pacific Water Conference in Noumea, New Caledonia earlier this month.
Mr Ravai had to step down as chairman of the PWWA after his termination as WAF chief executive officer.
However, he was re-elected into the board and presented with a special recognition award for “Distinguished Service as Chairman of PWWA”, a position he held from 2011 to 2017.
PWWA chief executive officer Lusia Sefo-Leau also confirmed to this newspaper that Mr Ravai was named “Pacific Water Professional of the Year”.
The PWWA consists of CEOs from the 32 water utilities across the Pacific, government ministries, donor agencies, Australian and New Zealand development partners, contractors and suppliers.
Speaking on behalf of Mr Ravai, his representative Len Anthony said the awards given to Mr Ravai were testament to his management skills, integrity and character.
“The PWWA awards bestowed on Mr Ravai by none other than the foremost organisation dealing with water in the entire Pacific region and beyond was nothing short of glowing praise of his knowledge, ability and professional contribution for the past seven years,” he said.
