The Seychelles President, Mr. James Michel, has appointed seven young professionals last weekend, of whom six are women, to key management posts in the Office of the President, effective of September 1, 2011.

“I strongly believe in empowering the youth, as well as women, in the public service. These young professionals will be a positive stimulus to the State House team and form part of the New Seychelles drive for better service delivery in government. I have every confidence that they will strive for good governance and excellence at all levels,” said President Michel.

Idith Alexander has been appointed as the new Principal Secretary for the President’s Office Administration. Ms. Alexander was formerly the Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles National Youth Council, a post she has held since January 2010. Idith Alexander has a Master of Science degree in Public Administration from Tsinghua University in China and a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from the University of Surrey in the UK. She previously worked as the Human Resource and Administration Manager for the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation in 2009-2010, as well as Director of Human Resources at the Ministry of Health in 2006-2009.

The Principal Secretary for Youth, Denis Rose, will oversee the SYNC secretariat until a CEO appointment is made at a later date.

Furthermore, the post of Chief Press Secretary in the President’s Office, currently occupied by Srdjana Janosevic, has been upgraded to the level of Principal Secretary. Srdjana Janosevic was appointed Press Secretary in the Office of the President in May 2009 and Chief Press Secretary in June 2010. Ms. Janosevic has a Masters in Ethics and Political Theory from the University of Reading in the UK and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and French from the same university. Ms. Janosevic previously worked as a TV news journalist for the Seychelles Broadcasting Corporation and has 10 year experience in radio and television broadcasting.

Rosa Morin has been appointed as the Director General for Civil Service Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of State for Cabinet Affairs. Mrs. Morin has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Oxford Brookes University in the UK. Following her university studies, she was employed in 2002 as a Liaison Officer for the Central Committee Affairs of the Seychelles People’s Progressive Front party and continued to work in this role until 2008. Mrs. Morin then undertook a career break to attend to family matters.

Sebastien Pillay has been appointed as the new Director General for Cabinet Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of State for Cabinet Affairs. Mr. Pillay holds a Masters degree in Educational Leadership and Innovation from Edith Cowan University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Education degree, majoring in Mathematics from the same university. He was previously Director General of Presidential Affairs, a post he held since June 2010. Prior to joining the Office of the President, Sebastien Pillay worked as a lecturer at the National Institute of Education in Mathematics, as well as a lecturer in Education at the University of Seychelles. He has fourteen years experience teaching mathematics at various secondary schools around the country.

Doreen Arnephy has been appointed as the new Director-General for Presidential Affairs in the President’s Office. Mrs. Arnephy holds a Bachelor in Education from Edith Cowan University of Western Australia. Doreen Arnephy previously worked as an Upper Primary School teacher and Professional Development Facilitator at the Independent School from 2001-2011 and as a teacher at La Misere School from 1995-2001.

Florry Dubois has been appointed as the Director for Cabinet Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of State for Cabinet Affairs. Since 2009, Mrs. Dubois has held the post of Assistant Director for Cabinet Affairs. Florry Dubois is a teacher of French by profession and holds a Bachelor degree in Linguistics in French as a Foreign Language from the University of Franche-Comté in Besançon, France. Florry Dubois has 16 years teaching experience at Beau Vallon and Mont Fleuri Secondary schools.

Barbara Kilindo has been appointed to a newly-created post of Director for Research and Documentation in the Presidential Affairs Department. Mrs. Kilindo was previously Principal Research Officer for Presidential Affairs since August 2010. Mrs. Kilindo is currently studying for a Masters in Leadership and Strategic Management with the National University of Ireland and the University of Seychelles on a part-time basis and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Havana, Cuba. Prior to joining the Office of the President, from 2008-2010, Barbara Kilindo worked as a research officer for the Seychelles National Parks Authority and between 1997-2000 as a science teacher at Belonie and English River Schools.