DILI, Timor Leste – The first set of SEARCA Alumni Association of Timor-Leste (SAAT) officers were installed in office on 15 January 2015 at the Early Sun Restaurant in Dili, Timor Leste. Eighteen SEARCA alumni, headed by their President, Mr. Agustinho da Costa Ximenes, were present during the event. Dr. Maria Cristeta N. Cuaresma, SEARCA’s Program Head for Graduate Education and Institutional Development (GEID) administered the Oath of Office for the SAAT officers. Also present to witness the event were Dr. Acacio Cardoso Amaral, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Timor Lorosaé (UNTL) and Country Representative of Timor-Leste to the SEARCA Governing Board, Sr. Lourenco Borges Fontes and Mr. Raimundo Mau, both Director Generals of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and Ms. Blessie P. Saez, GEID Assistant.The elected SAAT officers are as follows:
| President: | Agustinho da Costa Ximenes |
| Vice President: | Jose Nelson Salsinha |
| Executive Secretary: | Mario Jose Morais |
| Public Relations Officer I: | Afonso Candido |
| Public Relations Officer II: | Mateus de Jesus Gomez |
| Country Representative for RSFA: | Natalino Babo Martins |
With the induction of the SAAT officers, the association plans to register their group with the Ministry of Justice to have a legal personality to transact business, sponsor and/or undertake events such as the next Regional SEARCA Fellows Association conference targeted at the middle of the year.
