ADB Appoints Shane Rosenthal as New Pacific Regional Director Based in Australia – EQ Mag
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA : The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has appointed Shane Rosenthal as the new Regional Director of its Pacific Liaison and Coordination Office (PLCO) in Sydney, where he will lead operations for Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Mr. Rosenthal, who begins today, will also oversee the implementation of the Pacific Approach, 2021–2025, which is ADB’s country partnership strategy for those countries.
“ADB is a long-term development partner of Australia, and I look forward to building on our strong partnership to help boost the region’s development priorities,” said Mr. Rosenthal. “Together with my team, we will continue to work closely with the governments of Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu to help support their development goals.”
In addition to its programming, processing, and administration work in Nauru, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, ADB’s Sydney office is the bank’s sector hub for the development of private and finance sectors for the 14 Pacific developing member countries. PLCO’s location in Sydney enables ADB to work closely with key bilateral development partners, including Australia, New Zealand, the World Bank Group, and other multilateral institutions in the region.
Another key focus for PLCO is supporting gender equality in the Pacific, in keeping with ADB’s Strategy 2030. ADB is supporting climate-proofing across its infrastructure investments in the Pacific and is supporting governments to strengthen disaster preparedness, including using contingent financing schemes to quickly provide financial support in the wake of disasters and health emergencies. PLCO is assisting with energy and transport development projects in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the provision of microfinance in remote areas in Papua New Guinea, and the strengthening of the agriculture sector in Samoa.
For almost 17 years, ADB’s Sydney-based Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI), cofinanced by the governments of Australia and New Zealand, has been helping improve the region’s business environment and promoting private sector investment. PSDI is assisting Pacific governments to modernize business laws and competition regulations, improve access to finance and financial services, improve the efficiency of state-owned enterprises, and support public–private partnerships.
The multidonor Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility Coordination Office, also based in ADB’s office in Sydney, also works closely with Pacific governments and partners to coordinate assistance to improve the quality, reliability, and availability of critical infrastructure in the Pacific islands to boost economic growth, create jobs, and provide access to public services.
A national of Australia, Mr. Rosenthal holds a master of philosophy in economics from the University of Cambridge and a master of arts in economics and African studies from Johns Hopkins University. He has 30 years of development experience, including 19 years with ADB where he has held several leadership positions, including extensive experience working in Armenia, Georgia, Mongolia, and Timor-Leste.
Australia is a founding member of ADB. It has provided $8.6 billion in capital subscription to ADB. It has also contributed and committed $3.14 billion to Special Funds since becoming a member in 1966.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.
Source: adb
