A Chevener’s Story – Vincent Amelie: |25 August 2021
Vincent Amelie
‘The Chevening Scholarship has transferred my leadership potential into reality’
Over the course of this week, we have been featuring local case studies from alumni of the UK-government-funded Chevening international awards programme, aimed at developing global leaders. This year’s Chevening Scholarship application window runs from the 3rd August – 2nd November 2021. Today, we feature the story of the chief executive of the Seychelles Meteorological Authority – and 2013 Chevening Scholarship Alumnus – Vincent Amelie.
“Before joining the Seychelles Meteorological Authority in 1991, my knowledge of Meteorology was very limited. It is not a science that is taught at school and at the time the links between Climate Change and the many disasters caused by extreme weather events were not as pertinent as it is today. After many on-the-job and overseas training opportunities, however, it did not take long for my fascination with the weather to grow.
“Since then, I never looked back. After 30 years in the job, I am proud of what I have achieved and contributed to the Seychelles Meteorological Authority. I started as a Weather Observer, I became a Weather Forecasting Officer, and then I eventually worked my way up towards the role of Chief Meteorologist. Today, I occupy the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles Meteorological Authority, which speaks volumes about my career progression.
The real breakthrough in my career came when I was awarded a Chevening Scholarship in 2013, to pursue my studies in the UK for a Master’s Degree in Applied Meteorology and Climate with Management at the University of Reading. Although I was enjoying every second of my job, there was growing pressure in the face of a changing climate to provide a better service to the population, while at the same time overcoming the challenge of creating a conducive working environment with qualified and highly motivated staff.
“The Chevening Scholarship has transferred my leadership potential into reality. Through the unique networking opportunities that I have benefited from, I have been equipped with valuable knowledge and skills to effectively address these challenges. Under my leadership, staff are motivated to act towards achieving a common goal. I was able to make them feel part of the organisation and promote teamwork in everything we do.
“Challenges have been turned into opportunities, and – thanks to the good working environment and hardworking staff that we have – people are becoming more conscious about the scarcity of water during the dry season and how it must be managed, both for immediate needs and for long-term economic and environmental sustainability. Increasingly, there are more discussions on reducing disaster risks through weather and climate services. Knowing that the climate will probably be more extreme than usual moving forward, allows decision-makers to prepare more effectively for the most likely disaster risks.
People are becoming increasingly aware of weather and climate matters that affect not only almost everything that is done, but also, almost everything that the economy depends on, such as: agriculture, tourism, and transportation, among others. I therefore consider myself very fortunate to have been provided with the opportunity to travel thousands of miles from the Seychelles to the UK, to benefit from knowledgeable lecturers who have contributed towards making me the person who I am today. This valuable knowledge and skills would have been difficult to obtain, were it not for the prestigious Chevening Scholarship.”
Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations, Chevening offers two types of award – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships.
Chevening offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK.
To learn more and apply before the November 2 deadline, visit:
https://www.chevening.org/apply/