PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea: Tan Sri Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, the incoming executive director of Apec Secretariat, will be a "breath of fresh air" for the Singapore-based body, Malaysian officials said.
"Tan Sri Rebecca likes interactive discussions. The secretariat's current style is more like 'reading out statement'," said International Trade and Industry Ministry secretary-general Datuk Isham Ishak.
"After long period, it's about time for the Apec Secretariat to change and be more interactive and inclusive," said Isham, who worked under Sta Maria when she was the ministry's secretary-general.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Darell Leiking said Malaysia was lucky to have Sta Maria at the helm of the secretariat as she will help the country host the Apec Leaders' Summit in 2020.
Her appointment was also significant given that Sta Maria would present the progress of Apec's goals under the Bogor Declaration in 2020, he added.
"The 2018 Bogor Goals progress report has been completed and the final review will be undertaken in 2020. Tan Sri Rebecca will report on the achievement as well as post-2020 targets," Leiking told Malaysian media after the Apec Ministerial meeting on Thursday.
Sta Maria was announced as the secretariat's new ED at the Apec Ministerial meeting in this Papua New Guinean capital on Thursday.
She will replace New Zealand's Dr Allan Bollard from January 1 2019 on a three-year term. She is the first woman and second Malaysian appointed to the post.
Apec Secretariat operates as the core support mechanism for the 21-nation Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation process.
The secretariat performs a central project management role, assisting Apec member economies and Apec fora with overseeing more than 250 Apec-funded projects, according to its website.
Apec's annual budget is also administered by the secretariat.