“Greg Urwin worked tirelessly for the Pacific throughout his career. Even before taking on his role as Forum secretary general, Greg enjoyed a distinguished career focused on service to the Pacific,” Clark said in a statement.
“It was fitting that Greg should end his career as head of the Forum Secretariat. The South Pacific was where Greg made his home. His enthusiasm and love of our region was very evident in the way he went about his work,” she said.
“I appreciated Greg’s immense personal commitment in taking this work forward, as well as his handling of the sensitive political issues which Forum leaders tasked him with advancing, such as the region’s response to the Fiji coup, and the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands,” Clark said.
“Greg was a strong advocate for the Pacific and his passing is a great loss. His significant service to the Pacific Islands Forum region will be remembered by all who had the privilege of working with him,” Peters said.
“Greg’s earlier diplomatic work for Australia in the Pacific, as well as his experience as an advisor to Pacific governments, means he had great respect across the region.,” he said
Clark and Peters said they expected the leaders meeting at the 39th Pacific Islands Forum in Niue next week would wish to take time to recall the late Urwin’s contributions to the region.
Pacific Cooperation Foundation chief executive Vince McBride said Urwin had achieved a lot in the role and did it with humor.
“Greg was one of nature’s gentlemen who took over the helm of the Forum Secretariat at an important point in its history, guiding the organization through the establishment of the Pacific Plan, aimed at increasing regional cooperation,” he told NZPA. “As the first non-Pacific head of the Pacific region’s premier policy organization Greg had much to prove and he was more than equal to the challenge.”
Many in the Pacific would miss his “easy manner and happy chuckle,” he said.
