News from secretariat

New Faces at the Secretariat UCLG ASPAC welcomes new Personnel from Seoul and Guangzhou and interns.

YOOM, MOOYOUL is a secondee from Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) who will be part of the ASPAC Secretariat team from July 2017 to June 2019. Coming from Seoul Fire Disaster Headquarter, Mooyoul was the Manager of Fire Science Research Center back in SMG. During the secondment, Mooyoul expects to learn, plan, and implement disaster management related topics, be exposed to the exemplary disaster management policies, and conduct visit and investigation in disaster scene. He also expects when he goes back to Korea, that he will be able to create efficient policy of natural disaster (earthquake, flood, and drought) and play role as bridge between Seoul and Southeast Asian cities.

Coming to Indonesia for the first time, Mooyoul brings together his family. He shared that he and his wife are very satisfied with their daily life and happy to see their two children adapt to the new environment. He hopes to have good memories during his two-year stay.

GUO, JIALIN, firstly introduced herself as Heather, is another secondee from Guangzhou City Government.

Working for Guangzhou Award Secretariat as well as the Foreign Affairs Office, Heather took care of global partners and programs for the Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation. Thus, during her six-month secondment, she will facilitate and participate in peerreview tours of two cities shortlisted in the Award: Jakarta and Malang. She will also focus on expanding partnership network and cultivate potential cooperation for the development of the Award. More, she shows eagerness to learn how an international organization like UCLG ASPAC runs. She is looking forward to gaining more experience on dealing with international affairs, building up personal connections worldwide, and even learning new languages.

Very friendly people and nice weather is her first impression when arriving in Jakarta. Heather almost finds no difficulties to practice her love of walking (she enjoys walking to and from office every day!). “Only, it’s quite easy to get lost without the direction of Google Map,” she said at the end of the interview.

KITAGAKI, RINO from Yokohama has joined the Secretariat. She is an undergraduate student of Yokohama City University, Japan, majoring in Urban and Regional Policy, specifically environmental policy. In her 13-day visit, Rino, has been involved in various activities, such as local monitoring of Sendai Framework for Action on Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change Leadership Workshop, and also connected UCLG ASPAC with several members in Japan. Rino hopes that she can enhance experience and knowledge during her stay.

When asked what she likes most in Jakarta, she excitedly answered gadogado, local food of Jakarta consisting of various vegetables, slices of potatoes, tofu, and egg with peanut sauce. Having good experience when visiting Bali, Rino welcomed the opportunity to be back to Indonesia again while at the same time learning more about development issues in international organization. Before going back to Japan and starting the class, Rino will spend some time in China.

KIKI, or Siti Rizqi Ashfina Rahmaddina Siregar, is a new intern in UCLG ASPAC. The undergraduate student of Indonesia University or Universitas Indonesia, majoring in International Relations is applying the knowledge she gained in class lecture into various forms.

Although focused to contribute in writing UCLG ASPAC’s publications, Kiki has also welcomed the opportunity to take part in the Disaster Risk Reduction Training Workshop conducted at Jakarta City Hall. Regarding organizational experience, Kiki has been taking role in various activities, such as ASEAN Youth Conference 2017 and Indonesia Foreign Policy Review 2017.

During her three-month internship period, Kiki expects to gain experience in two things. First is exposure in local governance and urban issues. Kiki would like to see how local governments implement their country’s policy and also its local economic development. She also believes that her internship can give her exposure to real work and how to implement knowledge from university.

UCLG ASPAC Secretariat warmly welcomes all secondees and interns and wishes good luck to all!