Shining our spotlight on our Pacific People that work for our Pacific environment is this Q and A series from your Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Rachel ChanKay Levi, an Accountant based at SPREP has worked with the Secretariat for nearly ten years having started in 2012.
Rachel is part of a team known as the “engine room” of the Secretariat. A valuable member of the SPREP family, Rachel works in the Finance and Administration Department. She provides financial support to the Director of Finance and Administration, the Financial Accountant, and the team.
The Finance Team manages and monitors SPREP’s long-term and day-to-day monetary operations and strategy ensuring staff adhere to financial and administrative policies. It also oversees incoming and outgoing payments, budget creation, cash management, financial reporting and other tasks related to SPREP finances. When needed, the Finance Team provides the Senior Leadership Team with the necessary information to make strategic decisions.
There is no SPREP without the Finance and Administration Team!
Q. What is your best thing about the SPREP Finance and Administration team?
We have great teamwork. We work together to get the job done while respecting and accepting each other’s strengths and weaknesses. As we believe and often hear at SPREP – “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far, go together.”
Q. What has been your greatest achievement in your role to date?
I have enjoyed sharing my knowledge and expertise with the younger generation by providing training not only on the financial system but the processes of our work within Finance. It is good to know that we have the capacity to continue the financial work of SPREP, something that I helped bring about with our wider team.
Q. What do you enjoy about working at SPREP?
There is much cultural diversity at SPREP, in making friends and building relationships with my colleagues, I am also learning about different cultures.
Q. What is one of your fondest memories from working at SPREP?
We have a strong team-building culture at SPREP which is really helpful. I’d say one of my fondest memories comes from this. Our SPREP Advance in 2013 in Savaii – spending time with my colleagues away from the office – we got to know each other and our families on a more personal level, away from the office. The ocean view was sentimental and significant – it was a constant reminder as to what we work to protect. We had a great atmosphere – I got to know my colleagues better and found that has really helped unify us all as a working team.
Q. What tip do you think we should all know to help protect our environment?
It’s very simple. Start with you.
Q. If you could share one piece of advice, what would it be?
Life is too short. Take one day at a time. Do what you can to the best of your ability daily, go home, and enjoy time with yourself and your family.
Should you wish to contact Rachel ChanKay Levi, please contact [email protected]