New Intern Joins SPTO: Welcoming George Shafi Lethbridge

The Pacific Tourism Organisation is pleased to announce the addition of Mr. George Shafi Lethbridge to the Division of Sustainable Tourism as its new intern. This addition is a result of the ongoing partnership between SPTO and  the New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad, which  connected us with George to support our work while simultaneously aiding in his academic development.

George, a 22-year-old student from Wellington, New Zealand, is currently pursuing a Masters in International Development and Planning at the University of Otago. His academic journey has been marked by a strong passion for community development and sustainability. Underscoring this commitment is his current dissertation research in investigating  alternative rural livelihoods and water management programs in southwest Bangladesh.

Before embarking on his Masters, George completed a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, with a focus on water management, and a Diploma of Languages in French.

In his new role, George will be supporting the division in the development of a Climate Action Plan for the Pacific Tourism sector as well as the Geopark Initiative that will involve building on the work of our previous intern from Denmark, who the division farewelled earlier in August 2024.

Although new to the tourism sector, George’s expertise in water management, sustainability, and disaster risk reduction, combined with his enthusiasm for learning, promises to be an asset to our division.

“I look forward to working alongside the team at SPTO to expand my knowledge of the impacts of climate change in the Pacific region and how industries such as tourism can make a real difference for the livelihoods of communities. I am eager to learn from the wonderful people who make up SPTO and contribute to our shared goals.” Says George

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad and the University of Otago for their continued support. Their partnership is instrumental in enabling us to drive meaningful progress in our initiatives while supporting the development of future leaders in the field.

Please join us in welcoming George Shafi Lethbridge to the SPTO team!