Penn is vice-Chair of Intergovernmental Tsunami Programme

PRESS RELEASE: Emergency Communications Manager of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Mr Jasen Penn was elected Vice Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Tsunami Programme for the Caribbean and Adjacent Region.

Mr Penn’s duties will include conducting inter-sessional business and projects of the Sub-Commission as Vice Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System (ICG/CARIBE EWS).

He also serves as the Vice Chair of the Tsunami Ready Task Team, a group of professionals that oversee, monitor and advise on the piloting of the CARIBE EWS Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme.

Mr Penn has worked with the DDM since 1999 and was recently promoted to a senior management level position within the department.  He currently holds a BSc in Telecommunications Management, Masters level certification in Business Management and Project Management and has completed numerous professional level certifications.

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Tsunami Programme aims to reduce the loss of lives and livelihoods produced worldwide by tsunamis, by supporting IOC Member States in assessing tsunami risk, implementing Tsunami Early Warning Systems (EWS) and in educating communities at risk about preparedness measures.

The programme is a key stakeholder for tsunami risk reduction at the global level through the coordination of regional meetings, capacity building activities and the support of national and regional projects.

The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for Tsunami and other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE EWS) was established in 2005 as a subsidiary body of the IOC-UNESCO with the purpose of providing efficient assistance on tsunami risk reduction to member states in the Caribbean.