Kingston, Jamaica – 15 July 2024 — H.E. Mr. David Aingimea presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Nauru to the ISA during a ceremony held today at the ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
Ambassador Aingimea is taking his new role after a distinguished career in law, governance, and public administration. He holds a Master’s in Law from the University of Cumbria with a specialization in maritime policy and legislative drafting. His extensive experience includes roles as Principal Legal Officer, Department of Justice and Border Patrol, Acting Director of Border Control, and Secretary for Justice and Border Control in the Government of Nauru. Most recently he holds leadership positions in several state-owned enterprises, including as Chairman and CEO of Nauru (RPC) Corporation and Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Aingimea reaffirmed Nauru’s full support in delivering ISA’s mandate. “Nauru is proud to play an active role in the work of ISA through its membership of the Council and its role as a sponsoring State. As an international community we have a duty to support the development and advancement of this minerals sector in a responsible and sustainable manner under the legal framework that is UNCLOS”, he said.
“Nauru also welcomes the support it has received from ISA to strengthen our technical and capacity skills base”, Ambassador Aingimea added.
Secretary-General Lodge welcomed Ambassador Aingimea, highlighting Nauru’s proactive role within the ISA. “It is a pleasure to welcome Ambassador Aingimea as new Permanent Representative of Nauru to ISA and I look forward to working closely and the Government of Nauru in ensuring that all activities carried out in the Area follows the provisions of UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement”, he said.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to the principle that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including deep-seabed mining, must be regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all nations of the world. ISA works to ensure that the voices of all States, including developing States and other stakeholders, are effectively heard in discussions around the sustainable development of the deep seabed.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr. Philip Janikowski, Communications Specialist, ISA, pjanikowski@isa.org.jm
For more information, visit our website, www.isa.org.jm, or follow us on Twitter @ISBAHQ.