IT expertise meets island innovation: A volunteer journey to Samoa
After a 40-year career in IT, working across countries like Bermuda, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand and Israel, retirement might seem like the next logical step. But for seasoned professional, Marty Vink, retirement just didn’t stick.
“I tried retiring and didn’t enjoy it,” he said. “I felt a pull to do something more, a mix of doing something new and different, while still enjoying the same kind of work.”
That pull led him to Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) and after finding a role in IT advertised on the VSA website, he applied, got accepted, and soon found himself on his way to Samoa to volunteer as an IT Consultant with the Samoa Business Hub.
Initially his role was to assess a locally developed system and clean up data, but then the role quickly expanded. While the system worked well, one department’s needs weren’t being met, so he sourced an alternative system from Australia. “The more I was there, the more I saw that this system could do it all,” he shared. This led to some staff training across the organisation, and broader digital transformation.
From left: Fuailelagi Natanielu (VSA Samoa Programme Manager), Unasa Atuaisaute Misipati (CEO Samoa Business Hub), H.E. Si'alei van Toor (NZ High Commissioner in Samoa), Tuiloma Lemalu Sina Retzlaff (Chairperson Samoa Business Hub),and Marty Vink (VSA Volunteer)
He also lent his skills beyond the original assignment, supporting both the Samoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee and Samoa Cricket. “I found it very interesting to work with sporting associations,” he reflected. “It was something I hadn’t done before.”
The move to a cloud-based system was transformative. “The whole system was running on this piece, this server that was underneath an air conditioning unit next to an open window,” he recalled. “They had no backup plan.” Transitioning to a software-as-a-service (SaaS) system – a cloud computing service model where the provider offers use of application software and manages all physical and software services – brought backup, security, and remote access. “To me, that’s a massive improvement,” Marty said.
Yet the technical changes were only part of the story. Adapting to a new culture offered its own learning. “There are whole other ways of working and so that’s a different perspective – ways of working aren’t always Western.” Marty noted how work culture in Samoa valued hierarchy, and family always came first. When asked about some of his key learnings, he said “I’m a bit of a workaholic, but I could learn from that family-first culture.”
Living in Samoa reshaped more than just his professional outlook. “I’m definitely richer for it and feel so much lighter because of it,” Marty said, reflecting on his volunteer experience. “The experience has changed my perspective on life.”
Upon returning from his assignment in late 2024, his advice for anyone considering volunteering was to “Do it! Be clear with the type of experience that you want and be prepared for the range of experiences that are out there as they can differ dramatically.” True to his word, he is already back in Samoa ready to begin his new assignment in August. “My goal was to do this again” – and now he is!