Up Close … with IDC’s deputy chief executive Ronny Renaud-‘I am happy I have fulfilled most of my childhood dreams’ |24 May 2011
Mr Renaud says he never had a specific career in mind while growing up but has always wanted to be like his role model, the late Guy Sinon.
“Mr Sinon had a jovial personality and was a responsible person and I admired him for these qualities,” he says.
I spent an afternoon learning more about a simple man who has had an interesting life, having worked in different fields before settling in his current position at IDC.
Leading the way into his past, Mr Renaud says he spent his childhood growing up with his great-aunty and older brother at Copolia in the late 1960s to 1976.
“One thing I remember well is that I used to do the hard chores such as fetching water and sweeping the whole yard,” he says.
“Though I grew up in an isolated area, away from other houses, I have always been brave even if the elders told us creepy stories about ghosts.”
He moved back with his parents at Bel Air in 1976 and in 1981 he moved from Bel Air to Sans Soucis.
Mr Renaud, who is the 10th child of a family of 12, has now four children of his own and he is currently living at Union Vale.
He went to Plaisance primary school then moved to the former Seychelles College which was located at Mont Fleuri to pursue his secondary studies.
After college, at the young age of 18, Mr Renaud got his first work experience at the Seychelles Agence Presse which was situated at Union Vale.
He worked for one year as editorial assistant after which he went for three years overseas training in Cuba where he studied social sciences.
Back in Seychelles, Mr Renaud taught at the National Youth Service and the Polytechnic for two years.
His exploration in the different fields of careers did not stop there as he moved to the Ministry of Education headquarters for a year.
From there he spent six years in public administration, and more than two years at the
He says that business management and environmental aspects have always interested him.
Mr Renaud’s adventurous character led him to the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) where he worked as executive officer.
He said his experience working with SIF has been great as he got the chance to meet several scientists.
After SIF, he moved to the Marine Parks Authority as chief executive where he spent three years.
In June 2010, Mr Renaud was appointed as the IDC’s deputy chief executive and part of his responsibilities is to learn and know the needs of all the islands under the responsibility of IDC.
“I have worked in different fields but most of my jobs were closely related and I have acquired a variety of skills,” he says.
His work and hobbies are mostly related as in his spare time he enjoys doing things which has to do with the environment.
But Mr Renaud says he also enjoys sports, especially football as he used to play with the Bel Air team.
He describes his work at IDC as interesting as all the islands are different in their own way and each has their specific needs.
“I have been to most of the islands under the responsibility of IDC but the one which has 
“I am happy that I have accomplished most of my childhood dreams especially since I come from a large family, life at that time was not easy,”
He recalls his favourite outfit when he was in primary school which was his short made from a material called malbar dile.
“It was not easy for our parents to buy clothes for us regularly so we had to wear what we had,” he says.
Mr Renaud concludes our conversation with a smile and says he wished that back then he had the opportunities that we have today but is still happy that he has been able to develop professionally.
By Mandy Bertin