The CEO will be answerable to the council, which can "hire and fire" the top officer according to his or her performance, said Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab, Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Affairs.

"If he performs he stays, if he doesn't he goes. We can find another CEO," he said yesterday at the council's inaugral meeting.

Dato Hamdillah, who is also the council's chairman, stressed that the candidate must be suitably qualified and have credibility. The potential CEO should also be able to solicit funds, as the Brunei HoB is not expected to be fully-funded by the government. Meanwhile, the centre's staff should preferably be locals. "The work of the centre is a huge opportunity to get our biologists, our botanists, our conservationists, our forestry people (to be involved)," he expounded. Also needed are those with passion for conservation and for the objectives of the HoB.

The meeting held among permanent members of the HoB council and its supporters, including foreign diplomats and representatives from government departments and corporate organisations, hashed out the process of recruiting the CEO and other staff for the centre, future HoB projects and funding, among others.

The gathering, which took place in Anggerek Desa in the capital, also discussed the terms of reference for the council and the centre to facilitate the operations of each.

Yesterday also saw various organisations pledging support for the implementation of the national HoB project.

The national HoB council and centre were official established on April 21 this year, after approval from His Majesty's Office.