MERE SIGABALAU-SCHUSTER
Auckland
Summary
Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Director, Licensed NZ Migration Adviser (Full)
SandS Partnerships
06.2006 - Current
- Business operation and strategic function lead for SandS Partnerships including oversight for establishment and maintenance of tertiary partnerships and contracts, oversee student recruitment process, oversee student recruitment database, oversee marketing of academic study programmes for Australia and NZ tertiary partners, oversee provision of academic and programme counseling to prospective students for Australia and NZ tertiary partners, manage pre departure orientation for students, manage in-country alumni activities and register, provision of timely market reports to tertiary partners, provision of immigration advise and assistance for all immigration matters for Australia and NZ
Manager Awards, Australia Awards Scholarships for Fiji and Tuvalu
Coffey International - Fiji Program Support Facility
03.2017 - 03.2018
- Day to day management and coordination of Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) and the Australia Awards Pacific Scholarships (AAPS) activities in both Fiji and Tuvalu, in line with DFAT requirements, establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including universities, institutions, Ministries and DFAT, ensure that DFAT scholarships policies and FPSF quality systems and processes are adhered to in all aspects of the Awards cycle, manage and respond to enquiries from applicants and other parties throughout the full awards cycle, management of awards related processes and events; promotional activities, orientation sessions, course counselling, pre-departure briefings and workshops, lead and participate in information sessions for potential applicants on awards processes and requirements, including identifying opportunities for information sessions to assist in increasing awareness of the program and seeking applications from underrepresented groups, ensure pre-departure assistance and activities are delivered in a manner that facilitates the awardee's timely mobilisation and adjustment to the Australian study and living environment, ensure the assessment, selection and approval process is managed and delivered in a fair and transparent manner that maximises program outcomes, liaise with universities on placements of awardees, provide support in managing mobilisation and pre-departure briefings for awardees, support the reintegration and alumni activities, monitor and manage the variations to awards, including establishing and maintaining a process to receive, consider and approve variation requests compliant with DFAT policies and procedures, contribute to the Facility reporting requirements, including Annual Planning and reporting and M&E reporting in relation to the Awards program
- Ensure that data collection, recording and reporting is undertaken in accordance with Monitoring and Evaluation requirements and meets client obligations, ensure the program's gender equity and social inclusion goals and strategies are taken into account in management of the Awards program, perform other duties as reasonably required by the Facility Leader.
Manager, Exchange & Internships
UNITEC New Zealand
06.2004 - 06.2006
- Establish and maintain up-to-date information on international qualifications through as many international and national sources as possible, with a view to becoming a national leader/service, assess and approve international qualifications from: international/permanent residents to facilitate assessment for credit transfer applications, facilitate the process for, and provide assistance to, Schools wishing to establish MOU/credit transfer relationships, ensure dissemination of relevant information and access to this information to the wider Unitec community, establish Internship Office to promote Unitec Student Exchange Programme, develop and negotiate internship programme for and on behalf of Unitec with agreed to international tertiary providers and industry stakeholders, establish Internship partnership, marketing of Internship programme, marketing of Unitec academic programmes in the Pacific, South-East Asia and Japan.
Senior International Student Advisor/ Team Leader
UNITEC New Zealand
08.2001 - 06.2004
- Manage and implement international student advisory processes for the Unitec Student Advisory team, provide academic advice to prospective and current international students, assess international student applications for admissions into undergraduate programmes in the Faculties of Business & Computing, Arts & Social Sciences, Applied Technology, Architecture & Design, establish & manage effective working relationships with Programme Leaders, provide timely reports to schools and Director international on Student Advisory International Qualification & Application Assessment, established International Qualification Assessment function for the International Office via a needs assessment process, provide relevant advice and current information to Faculties on equivalences of International education systems to the New Zealand qualifications system, ensure Advisory team is provided with updated advice and information on International education systems, manage and promote Marketing relationships with UNITEC New Zealand appointed international student recruitment agents in Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pacific, attend international education fairs/seminars on behalf of UNITEC New Zealand in Japan, Indonesia and French Pacific, UNITEC representative to English language Schools, and Secondary School International Students information day.
Summer School Coordinator
University of Auckland
01.2000 - 01.2001
- Responsible for the administration of the University's Summer School program, which involved the co-ordination of program approvals to be offered, classrooms, time tabling of classes and exams, student support availability and marketing.
Program Manager, Professional Diploma in Legal Practice
University of the South Pacific
01.1999 - 01.2000
- Responsible for the administrative lead function for the program, which was run twice a year, responsible for 4 administrative staff.
Education
Graduate Diploma in Philosophy -
University of Auckland
Graduate Certificate in NZ Immigration Advice -
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and History/Politics
The University of the South Pacific
01.1992
Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Verbal and written communication
- People Management
- Operations Management
Websites
Languages
English, Fijian
Hobbies and Interests
Social and Climate Justice, Indigenous Rights and Protection, Travel, Cooking.
Timeline
Manager Awards, Australia Awards Scholarships for Fiji and Tuvalu
Coffey International - Fiji Program Support Facility
03.2017 - 03.2018
Director, Licensed NZ Migration Adviser (Full)
SandS Partnerships
06.2006 - Current
Manager, Exchange & Internships
UNITEC New Zealand
06.2004 - 06.2006
Senior International Student Advisor/ Team Leader
UNITEC New Zealand
08.2001 - 06.2004
Summer School Coordinator
University of Auckland
01.2000 - 01.2001
Program Manager, Professional Diploma in Legal Practice
University of the South Pacific
01.1999 - 01.2000
Graduate Diploma in Philosophy -
University of Auckland
Graduate Certificate in NZ Immigration Advice -
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and History/Politics
The University of the South Pacific
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