Embert Charles named new WACC President

WACC’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the election of Embert Charles, an experienced communication and media specialist from Saint Lucia, West Indies, as its global President 2019-23.

Charles has over 35 years active membership in the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) at both regional and global levels during which he has served in various capacities as president of WACC Caribe (2011-14) and as a member of WACC’s international Board of Directors.

“Embert Charles has all the experience and qualities of leadership that an international non-governmental organization like WACC needs to guide it over the next few years,” said WACC General Secretary Philip Lee. “The staff are looking forward to working with him and with the soon-to-be-elected new Board of Directors in what will be an exciting phase in the life of WACC.”

Charles has a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Regulation and Policy from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and an MPhil in Development Studies from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom.

Accepting his appointment, Charles noted, “WACC remains a focused organisation carrying out the mandate of its membership after inclusive consultation on the emerging issues affecting the marginalised – communication and language rights, gender imbalance, socio-political and economic exclusion, and the environment.”

“WACC will continue to work towards mainstreaming communications rights into development programmes in much the same manner that gender analysis climate change has been mainstreamed,” he added.

Charles has held top administrative, managerial and leadership positions in the public sector, including Managing Director of the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (2008-17). Previously, he was Director of Information Services and Communications and Public Awareness Consultant for the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

For ten years, Charles was Executive Director of the Folk Research Centre (FRC) in Saint Lucia, established in 1973 as a repository for St Lucia’s cultural heritage, and whose founding director was Msgr. Patrick Anthony, a past president of WACC Caribe. He is the present Chairman of the Board of the FRC.

Charles is a member of the International Institute of Communications, Saint Lucia National Trust, and the Telecommunications Executive Management Institute of Canada.