Based in Banks Peninsula near Christchurch, Dr Jan Gregor has been active in supporting regional Pacific and country-level activities throughout the Pacific islands for over 20 years. She has progressively directed her scientific contributions towards supporting government thinking and planning for safe and secure community drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and associated health and wellbeing outcomes. Considering climate variability and change, and inequities are key features of her work. Her passion and expertise is helping to bring together multiple perspectives in strategies and action plans.
It is important to Jan that the countries themselves have the lead. “We need to listen. Our role is to support countries achieve the goals they have determined.” She enjoys seeing the results of strengthened capability in the government agencies she supports and the consequential strengthened capability in the communities they support. Tonga, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Kiribati are among the governments she has supported most.
In recognition of the contribution Jan has made to the Pacific region, she became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2020.
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