Learning curves lead home

After riding some sharp learning curves overseas, a talented young Cook Islander is back home

After nearly six years working in Australia for the Australian Federal Government’s Department of Finance, Cook Islander Bredina Drollet is back home to run the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
She recently took up her position as Secretary for Internal Affairs.
The Herald spoke with her on Wednesday morning. Happy to be home, she and her family are still unpacking their container and she’s taking things slowly.
Bredina completed her University studies in 1999, emerging with a BA in Economics and Commercial Law. Returning to Rarotonga in 2000, she took up a position in MFEM in the Budget area. For her, being mentored by then Secretary for Finance Kevin Carr, it was a sharp learning curve especially in the first two years becoming accustomed to the political interactions. After four years on the Budget side she then spent time in the Fiscal area being involved with the Economic Update.
Around this time she felt she had progressed as far as she could and she began to consider other options. She looked at doing a Masters degree or seeking a regional position. She was granted a six month attachment to the Australian Government’s Department of Finance and at a conference was asked by the Deputy Director if she would like to work for the Australian Government. She took up this offer and began in January 2004.
She says her first year was a massive learning curve, coming to terms with the Australian Government’s finance systems and decision making processes. After four years she actually came to love the job. However, in the last two years she began to reflect on her next move. She had the option of becoming an Australian citizen and continuing to work for the Australian Government. She decided against this.
She saw the various HOMs jobs being advertised back home and decided to apply. The rest is history. Although she misses her friends in Australia, she says she’s very happy to be home and she has noticed some changes. Locally there has been more development and there seems to be a vibrancy about the place which was not here when she left.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
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