Beatrice Faumuina

"You can count on my continued, tireless support to FAO's activities and worldwide campaign against hunger, to enable those living on the verge of famine to use their own two hands to resolve the problem of hunger at the roots. Let's join hands".

Ms. Faumuina is the first woman of the Southwest Pacific region to win a World Championship title. In 1997 in Athens, she struck gold at the discus throw.

Winner of the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, the 2002 International Association of Athletics Federation World Cup and seventh at the 2004 Olympic Games, Ms. Faumuina set eleven New Zealand discus throw records from 1993 to 1997. She was recently awarded the title of Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to athletics.

On 16 October 2005, Ms. Beatrice Faumuina, from New Zealand, was appointed FAO Goodwill Ambassador.

As an FAO Goodwill Ambassador, she acted as the patron for the Southwest Pacific region to promote an initiative launched by the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) in 2006, consisting in an auction sale of items belonging to world class athletes, and part of the proceeds of the sale were donated to FAO.

Ms. Beatrice Faumuina visited the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and on that occasion she met staff members of the FAO Liaison Office and paid a courtesy visit to the new Administrator of UNDP, Ms. Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand.  During her visit, Beatrice reiterated her strong commitment as an FAO Goodwill Ambassador.