User:Emma Metieh-Glassco

Born as a native of the oldest independent Republic in Africa, Liberia, Mrs. Emma Metieh-Glassco is an achieved young Ocean Governance Expert with wealth of experience (over eight years) and knowledge in both fisheries and maritime sectors. She obtained her Master of Science (MSc) in Maritime Affairs with emphasis in Ocean Sustainability Governance and Management from the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden, where she extensively covered the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other related maritime course modules such as International Maritime law and Policy etc. The WMU is a prestigious maritime university established since 1983, under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization, a specialized agency of United Nation. She also obtained a diploma in Ocean Governance and Sustainable Fisheries Management in Australia from the Australia National University (ANU). At ANU she was afforded an opportunity to visit Rhodes University in Mauritius, East Africa, where part of the training on Sustainable Fisheries Management was conducted. As a maritime professional, Madam Glassco, serves her Internship at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters, London, United Kingdom. During her internship, she was privilege to serves as a National Observer at high level international conventions working sessions such as, the 71st session of the Maritime Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the 67th session of the Technical Cooperation Committee (TCC) organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as well as the Abidjan Convention Cop12 in Ivory Coast, West Africa. Mrs. Glassco, conducted a research paper on “Challenges caused by Illegal Unreported Unregulated Fishing (IUU) in the offshore for Liberia's Fisheries based on a global review and analysis’’ as partial fulfillment of a MSc degree at the World Maritime University. Also as partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree obtained in Zoology, from the University of Liberia (UL), she also conducted her research on “Prevalence and Predisposing Factors of Acute Watery Diarrhea in Slipway Community in Liberia”. These were her two major publications apart from other articles written in a magazine “Liberia Travel and Life Magazine’’ Premised on her concrete academic credentials, professional competence and personal skills, the President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Amb. Dr. George Manneh Weah reposed his explicit confidence in her person, through a Presidential appointment in February 2018 to serve as the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), a regulatory body and revenue generating arm of the government of Liberia; being one of privileged few to have received a national mandate following the President’s inauguration on 22nd January 2018.

As Director General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NaFAA, she is charged with the mandate as enshrined in the Act establishing the Authority to regulate all fisheries and fisheries related activities, inclusive of Aquaculture within the Republic of Liberia, and to maximize revenue generation thereby enabling an increased contribution to the National budget of the Republic of Liberia; as well as to establish and strengthen relations with international bodies aimed at attracting potential investments for the development of the fisheries sector.

Preceding the aforementioned and as part of her social contribution to the society, Mrs. Glassco has exhibited great leadership skills serving in the capacity of Vice President of the 91st  graduating class of the University of Liberia in 2011, presiding over  one thousand eight hundred (1,800) students from different academic disciplines. She played a similar role at a more senior position as the President of the World Maritime University Women Association (WMUWA); a conglomeration of seven regional maritime women network, established by the IMO and WMU to foster women’s participation and collaboration in the maritime sector.

Furthermore, Madam Glassco served as a volunteer Global Youth Ambassador to Liberia for the United Nations as the first female, promoting and advocating for “Girls Quality Education”, the UN-Secretary Special Envoy on Global Education Initiative.

Madam Galasso’s great passion and enthusiasm for work was demonstrated when she volunteered her services in many institutions both at national and international levels. In this regard, to mention a few, the most important was her services at the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Radio station for a period of three years and one-year volunteer service as Communications Analyst on Planning Committee (International Women Colloquium’s) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Liberia.

Shortly after graduation from the undergraduate program of the University of Liberia, she also volunteered at the Ministry of Agriculture in the office of the Deputy Minister of Technical Services (Dr. Sizi Subah). During her term as a volunteer, she later opted to apply for a position of Fisheries Monitoring Officer of a World Bank Sponsored Project under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture, from whence she began her professional journey and has gradually ascended through the ranks and files of the institution. She lastly served as a Senior Policy Analyst of National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority prior to her ascendency as Head of the Institution.

Madam Glassco is a daughter of Mary E. Metieh (Biochemistry professor of the University of Liberia) and Dr. Paul C. Metieh a medical doctor and a general surgeon. She is married to Mr. Eric W. Glassco and the union has produced two children. She is a devoted Christian (by religion), wife and mother. She has over the years throughout her work experience exhibited good interpersonal skills as well as strong cultural, moral and ethical values; and has demonstrated great passion working in multicultural environments.