ECG is a boutique consultancy firm that is 100% Pacific owned and based in Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand. We specialise in strategy, evaluation and engagement work and have extensive experience in New Zealand and across the region.
We are a team of 7 qualified professionals who represent a cross-section of different industries including Law, Business, Economic Development, Media and Communications, Sports, Research and Evaluation.
ECG innovates practical, sustainabe and bespoke solutions for various clients using a multi- disciplinary model of critical assessment that is centered on an indigenous Pacific world view.
Project Manager with more than 8 years of experience in the education sector as a secondary school teacher, more than 2 years of experience in the business development sector as a business manager in development banking and more than 10 years in the field of environment, climate change and disaster risks management and resilience building working with donors, development partners and stakeholders. I have over 10 years experience in project management working in 15 countries in the Pacific region. These experiences includes capacity building, business developments, disaster risk management/reduction and climate change adaptation, mitigation and finance, climate science information, biodiversity and land degradation.
I have represented Nauru, Fiji and SPREP at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) and familiar with the UNFCCC processes and procedures in coordination, monitoring and reporting to the UNFCCC secretariat. In addition, I was the development of the Third National Communication Coordinator for Fiji and experience with building capacity by mainstreaming multilateral environment agreement (UNFCCC, UNCBD and UNCCD) into inter-ministerial structures and mechanisms across Fiji Government and non-government organizations.
A highly experienced climate finance, environmental finance and economics professional with substantial project design, international development and implementation experience. With a profound understanding of the Pacific region's unique vulnerability and capacity challenges, Michael has worked successfully with multilateral (ADB, GCF, Adaptation Fund (AF)), bilateral, and Pacific regional agencies (SPC, SPREP, PIFS). His experience traverses 15 Pacific countries and more than 20 years of experience in his fields of expertise.
Ben Sims has 13 years of experience in more than ten countries across Asia and the Pacific. Ben is an expert in climate finance, public financial management, investment planning, climate risk assessments, adaptation planning (asset, community, sector and national levels), policy and institutional design and reforms, and the development of sectoral and national strategies and plans.
Ben has provided consultancy services for government agencies and international organisations, including SPREP, ADB, World Bank, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), UN Environment, UNDP, UNDRR, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Government of New Zealand. Recent consultancies are summarised in this profile - my full consultancy record is provided in my CV.
Ben’s recent work in the Pacific includes leading the development of the PNG National Climate Finance Strategy and PNG GCF Country Programme; completion of climate finance training for government agencies in Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands; design of the GCF no-objection procedure for RMI; and analysis on strengthening flood risk management institutions in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. He has also led an assessment on mainstreaming climate change into Cambodia’s PFM system and development of an investment plan to strengthen the country’s disaster risk management. Ben was previously a staff member at GGGI, where he worked on establishing the Institute’s country programs in Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
He holds a Master of Environmental Management and Development and Master of Diplomacy from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland, and is a Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance from the Frankfurt School. Ben is currently studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Auckland part time, where he is researching the impacts of flooding on population health.
I am a climate scientist with a background in meteorology and weather/climate prediction. My main area of expertise is in seasonal to interannual climate variations, including teleconnections and Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude circulation variability. I have over 40 years' experience in the area and have been involved in writing the last three IPCC Working Group 1 Assessment Reports (AR4, AR6, AR6). I have four years' experience as a Commissioner on the NZ CLimate Change Commission and have worked on shaping climate change policy for several years. I am also an experienced science communicator, winning the NZ Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize in 2018.
Perth based, dual national environmental executive with specializing in environmental impact assessment. Rean has lived in the Pacific where she lived and worked in Samoa while she undertook a waste management project in collaboration with SPREP.
Rean has a demonstrated track record in marine, coastal and land based marine science, leadership and management in Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Rean has worked both in private industry and State and Federal government agencies as an environmental professional /regulator as well as operating a sole trader consultancy business specializing in marine pollution, waste management issues, environmental impact problem solving and management.
Rean has also worked as the regulator in Marine Park Management for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, regulation of shipping, regulation of airspace and regulation of the oil and gas industry offshore and onshore.
Rean is an adaptable, self-motivated, positive and a reliable leader with well-developed interpersonal skills, high emotional intelligence, client liaison and negotiation skills.
Alan Brent is a Professor and the inaugural holder of the Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems in the Faculty of Engineering at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He holds Bachelor degrees in Engineering (Chemical) and Philosophy (Sustainable Development); Master degrees in Science (Environmental Engineering), Engineering (Technology Management), and Philosophy (Sustainable Development); and a PhD in Engineering Management. He is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, a member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society, and an executive committee member of The Sustainability Society. More information on his research can be found on his ORCID profile (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3769-4512), and LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanbrent/).
Co-founder of Takutea O Kiva Ltd (TOK Consulting), a Cook Islands based consultancy company that works exclusively on projects occurring in the pacific, with a team wholly comprised of indigenous pacific based professionals.
Positions held include CEO of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, Business Operations Manager for Avaroa Cable Limited Cook Islands, Business Improvement Manager for Southern Cross Health Society NZ, and Project Manager for Vodafone NZ.
Passionate about climate change, disaster risk management, business mentoring, and the holistic involvement of indigenous communities in Country planning activities. Advocate at heart for openly sharing knowledge and forming new connections.
Development professional with over sixteen years of experience living and working in the Pacific region, namely Samoa. A national-level consultant specializing in project management, rural livelihoods development, community outreach, policy and statistical analysis and digital innovation in various thematic areas related to international development such as agriculture, environment and industry. Over eight years managing public affairs, political, economic, and military portfolios for U.S. Embassy Apia. Experienced managing numerous grants, programs, media campaigns, development projects, budgets, volunteer placements, and humanitarian missions involving various federal agencies, host nation governments, and civil society organizations. Experienced office leader in a cross-cultural setting. Excellent at multi-tasking and delivering quality work in a timely manner.
James Lewis, Director of Intercoastal Consulting, is a certified practicing civil engineer with over 15 years of experience specialising in coastal engineering throughout Australasia and across the Pacific. He has a broad knowledge of coastal protection design, integrated coastal management and surf amenity. James’s skills extend outside the office where he has led large-scale metocean deployments, analysing the data captured in the field to calibrate numerical models used to inform coastal design.
He has focussed the last 10 years of his career on working in Small Island Developing States (SIDs) in climate change adaptation, concerned primarily with developing climate-resilient coastal protection. James aspires to see the design phase through to implementation; having supported procurement, and contracting and undertaken construction supervision on large projects in remote locations. He aims to provide value and support through the complete project lifecycle including the social, financial and institutional aspects of these projects, endeavoring to understand the administrative, governmental and funding mechanisms specific to each country and community and their relation to the delivery of a successful project.
Using his knowledge of coastal engineering, the ocean and the environment, James’ primary endeavor is to assist coastal communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
