IORA DIRECTORS AND EXPERTS

Amanda is a seconded from the Commonwealth of Australia and is the Director responsible for:
 

1. Trade and Investment Facilitation 
2. The Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum 
3. Climate Change (as the secretariat Focal Point)

Amanda has a had a 19-year career in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade with previous postings to Jakarta (2015-19) and to Afghanistan (2010-12).  

Amanda has a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University and a Graduate Certificate in Humanitarian Leadership from Deakin University.

Zelda Vrolick is seconded from South Africa to the IORA Secretariat since January 2023 and occupies the position of Director responsible for the Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation, and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges Priority Areas. She is additionally the interim Director for Blue Economy and Fisheries Management.

Zelda Vrolick has extensive experience in diplomacy and international relations and has previously served in the Directorate: BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Prior experience includes serving as 1st Secretary (Political) at the South African Embassies in Senegal and Argentina and as 3rd Secretary (Political) at the South African Embassy in Sweden. She began her diplomatic career as an Assistant Foreign Service Officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1994.

She holds a Masters’ Degree from the University of the Free State.

Alex Mpangala has been seconded by the Ministry of Finance and Planning of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania as the Director for Corporate Services of IORA.

Prior to his appointment, he has engaged in civil service and inter-governmental economic relations in diverse duties involving development finance, funding administration and fiscal budget management and appraisal. His delegated administrative experiences have been within the Government of Tanzania in the Ministry of Finance.

Alex Mpangala holds a Master of Science in Economics and Finance for Development (MSc Economist and Finance) in addition to a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Statistics. He has fourteen years professional experience.

Shivraj Dhuppe is an Indian Civil Servant seconded from the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India as Director at the IORA Secretariat in Mauritius since April 2024. 

The assigned responsibilities are for priority areas dealing with Maritime Safety and Security (MSS) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and IORA collaboration with Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and International Solar Alliance. He is also the interim Director for Institutional Arrangement and Broadening Engagement (IABE).

He has experience in Government of India in different capacities in dealing with Project Assessment and Management, Infrastructure Contract Management, Research and Development activities and Public-Sector Audit. Deputation to United Nations, New York as member of team under the Board of Auditors to UN. Attended many professional trainings at premier National and International Institutions on Climate change and adaptation, Sustainable Development Goals of UN, Biodiversity management, urban infrastructure management etc and had Environment review of many projects and schemes.

He holds postgraduate degree in Agriculture Science and Bachelor of Laws from Mumbai University. 

Melyne Tarer has been seconded by the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, Government of France as International Expert to the IORA Secretariat since 12 September 2022. Melyne is the first international expert to the blue economy directorate of IORA Secretariat.

Melyne works with the Blue Economy team to strengthening of the Secretariat and the cooperation between member states, dialogue partners and international organisation. The main subjects she is in charge are seabed exploration and minerals, renewable energy. She brings with her analyst experience working on the integration and regional cooperation of the French Overseas territories, the marine development and marine preservation, humanitarian assistance disaster relief (HADR) development rescue, cooperation between civil security and military face the climate change, with diverse French Ministry and think-thank.

Melyne holds a Bachelor’s in International Relations, Master’s in international relations, Master’s in international strategy, prospective and geopolitics. She is a Geopolitical analyst and an international commercial engineer.