His Excellency Danny Faure, the Former President of the Republic of Seychelles has been named Chair of the Board of Governors of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) on 2 March 2023.
As Minister of Education at the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) held in 2000, HE Danny Faure mooted the idea of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) and at the next CCEM held three years later, strongly advocated for COL to be the lead agency in implementing this initiative. He continued his interest and support for VUSSC through other cabinet posts and at international forums as a champion for small states.
COL President and CEO, Professor Asha Kanwar, commented on the appointment, “It is with great pleasure that I welcome His Excellency Danny Faure as the Chair of the COL Board of Governors. His wisdom and vast experience in education and sustainable development will add great value as COL continues to serve the Commonwealth.”
HE Danny Faure became the Fourth President of the Republic of Seychelles on 16 October 2016 where he served for four years. During his tenure, President Faure designated 30% of the Seychelles’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as Marine Protected Areas, making Seychelles a leader in marine protection. He inspired COL to advance the concept of the blue economy which was still in its infancy at the time. HE Faure was recognised by the African Union as “Champion for the Development of the Blue Economy” at the 11th Extraordinary AU Assembly Session in Addis Ababa in 2018. A year later, he was also awarded the National Geographic Society’s prestigious “Planetary and Leadership Award” at a National Geographic Awards Ceremony at the George Washington University in Washington, DC.
His Excellency is currently the Patron and Chairperson of the Danny Faure Foundation which was launched in 2021 to promote sustainable development. He was made an Honorary Member of the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa in 2022.
HE Danny Faure represented Africa on the COL Board of Governors from January 2014 to December 2016 during his tenure as Vice President of the Republic of Seychelles.
Image credit: Danny Faure Foundation
