Staff Tribute
Ms Miriam Philip, WWF PNG Marine Manager
WWF South Pacific would like to express our deep sadness by the passing of Ms Miriam Philip, WWF PNG Marine Manager. In special recognition of her lifetime’s work towards the conservation of nature in the Pacific Islands region, friends and colleagues would like to express their fond memories of times shared:
“Miriam was the first PNG woman I met when I began working with the leatherbacks in Papua. We met in
Hawaii 2002 where she presented the leatherback work in PNG. I found her to be a quiet person but very knowledgeable. She also
seemed constantly inspired to work on conservation in the Pacific. When I heard that she’d moved to SPREP in
Apia, I thought ‘what an energetic woman.’”
“I felt great knowing that she’d joined WWF PNG and thereafter became my BSSE colleague and close friend. We enjoyed more a bond of
Pacific sisterhood, rather than just colleagues. Through a shared passion for turtles, she helped achieve the trinational leatherback
agreement, and while it’s still a long way to go and Miriam is no longer with us, I’m sure her spirit and passion for the 'ledebak' is
still with us.
Rest in Peace, Miriam, and I hope you enjoy the warmth of the tiger blanket I sent!”
© WWF PNG.
Miriam tagging a leatherback during nesting season on Kamili Beach along the Huon coast, Morobe Province.
Rest in Peace, Miriam, and I hope you enjoy the warmth of the tiger blanket I sent!”
- Creusa Hitipeuw, WWF Indonesia
“I remember Miriam as a humble person.”
- Seremaia Tuqiri, WWF South Pacific
“Remarkable yet so humble.”
- Robert Yen, WWF PNG
“The silent achiever.”
- Francis Areki, WWF Fiji
“On behalf of the Members and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) I would like
to express my deep sadness by the rather sudden passing of Ms Miriam Philip. All of us at SPREP join her family, relatives and friends in mourning and prayers.”
“We knew Miriam as a quiet, humble and a happy person with a ready smile whenever she met anyone one of us at SPREP. She worked hard and long hours uncomplaining beyond the call of duty. She was a young person with a wise and mature head on her shoulder who devoted herself to the care of the Pacific environment through her three years of duty at SPREP, and more recently with her engagement with WWF.”
“Miriam adhered to high professional and work ethical standards as she consistently earned high annual work performance evaluations, and she quietly went about achieving her goals no matter the size of obstacles she faced---she was the embodiment of grace under duress.”
“We all miss her terribly. We pray that the God of love and mercy would comfort and console the grieving children and family members. May she rest in peace.”
“We knew Miriam as a quiet, humble and a happy person with a ready smile whenever she met anyone one of us at SPREP. She worked hard and long hours uncomplaining beyond the call of duty. She was a young person with a wise and mature head on her shoulder who devoted herself to the care of the Pacific environment through her three years of duty at SPREP, and more recently with her engagement with WWF.”
“Miriam adhered to high professional and work ethical standards as she consistently earned high annual work performance evaluations, and she quietly went about achieving her goals no matter the size of obstacles she faced---she was the embodiment of grace under duress.”
“We all miss her terribly. We pray that the God of love and mercy would comfort and console the grieving children and family members. May she rest in peace.”
- Asterio Takesy, SPREP Director