Dr George Carter is a Research Fellow at the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University (ANU). He is also the Director for the ANU Pacific Institute a large network hub of scholars in the university - connecting and promoting Pacific research, teaching and training at the university.
The broad focus of George’s research interest explores Pacific island peoples’ and states influence and agency in international and regional politics. His research interests explore international politics of (negotiations, security, gender, finance, justice, science and traditional knowledge) climate change, geopolitics and regionalism(s), as well as the foreign policy and diplomacies of small island states in the Pacific. Furthermore, he is interested in indigenous philosophy and non-western international relations that focus on the longstanding history, practices, protocols and principles of Pacific political communities, contributing to Oceanic Diplomacy.
He has undertaken research in multilateral forums including climate change, security, ocean, sustainable development negotiations, as well as in regional organisations and national governments across the Pacific. George teaches university and executive courses in international relations, diplomacy, security, environment and climate change, policy, cultural communication, and Pacific studies.
His research and teaching interests are informed by his education, work experience in the Pacific and upbringing through his proud Samoan Tuvaluan, i-Kiribati, Chinese, British ancestry. He serves his family and communities in Samoa, where he holds the matai/chiefly title of Salā.
Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting & Business Tax Law, University of New South Wales, Australia 1999,
Master of Business Administration, USP Fiji, 2007
Member. Samoa Institute of Accountants
IAP2 Certified
Ruth is a climate change, environment and international development professional, with a particular focus on climate resilience, adaptation planning, and climate finance readiness. She has 9 years’ experience providing policy research, analysis, implementation and project/programme management in these fields, working extensively with a range of donors/international development partners and national governments worldwide. Ruth's recent assignments have included supporting countries with INDCs, capacity building support, contributing to the evaluation of EU adaptation strategy implementation and leading inputs to the EU’s 7th national communications.
Prior to joining Ricardo, Ruth was Climate Finance Adviser for the Commonwealth, where she designed and led a work programme on climate finance readiness and resilience, focusing on improving the access, use and delivery of climate finance for small and vulnerable member states, including the Commonwealth Climate Finance Skills Hub proposal.
Raya Salter is an energy law, policy and regulation lawyer and professor working with governments, private companies, institutions and NGOs, in
domestic and international jurisdictions to advance a transition from fossil fuel to clean and renewable power. She is an expert on utility and energy sector reform and energy law and policy with a focus on grid modernization and clean energy integration. Ms. Salter's practice is focused on Hawaii and Pacific islands.
Raya has 10 years of experience as an attorney. This includes NGOs, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund, where she advocated for clean energy policy and utility reform in 9 states. Ms. Salter also worked in private with the firm of Dewey & LeBeouf in New York City, working on utility mergers and acquisitions and energy regulation. Raya has a JD from Fordham Law School and a BA in economics from Wesleyan University. She is also a Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham Law School.
Julian Crawford is a Director of EcoSTEPS and a project leader on strategy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk management and resilience related projects with over fifteen years’ experience since 2000. He has worked on numerous projects across the Pacific region. Clients have included international inter-government organisations (IGOs) (eg PIFS, SPC and SOPAC), funding agencies (eg DFAT/AusAid, NZAid, UNEP, ADB, UNDP, GEF), major corporations and Australian Federal, State and Local Governments. Acts as a senior adviser on major policy work or is responsible for leading complex projects/programs, often involving the participation of one or more multidisciplinary teams. • Has a strong academic background (Oxford University, UK) and internationally recognized professional status in the field (Director and past-President ISSP (International Society of Sustainability Professionals). • Excellent thematic expertise: including Climate Change, Strategy, Stakeholder
Fifteen years managing development finance in Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific and six years in small island developing states. Expert building country systems and partnerships for development. Climate change, resilience building, infrastructure, gender equality, blue/green economy, public health, education and governance program experience.
EDUCATION:
Candidate in Master of Business Administration, USP RMI, (4 more courses needed)
Master of Legal Studies in International and Environmental Law, Australian National University 2002
Certificate in World Affairs, East West Center University of Hawaii, 2004
Certificate Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Studies, Waikato University, 1998
Bachelor’s of Arts Natural Sciences, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 1994-1997
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: AOSIS
OTHER TRAINING:
Legal Drafting, Parliament Sponsored Workshop, 2006
International Treaty Negotiations, SPREP, 2005
Strategic Planning, held in Guam USA, 2006
Budget/Financial Preparations, Majuro 2005
Environmental and Sustainable Development Project Design
Greenhouse gas inventory, Fiji 1998
COUNTRIES OF WORK EXPERIENCE: Republic of Marshall Islands, Pacific and International
EMPLOYMENT
RECORD:
Charlotte is a highly accomplished, skilled and talented development professional with over a decade of experience in international development in 20 countries worldwide. She has a proven track record of providing strategic and programming direction to organisations to develop, implement and monitor policies, strategies, campaigns and programs to build gender-sensitive community resilience. She is an excellent educator and communicator of development theory and practice to a variety of stakeholders including government officials, non-governmental staff and partners, communities, academics, and other groups. She is co-author of Toward Resilience (Practical Action, 2013), a practitioner’s guide to disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation programming and advocacy, which integrates gender throughout; and has developed a range of participatory risk assessment tools and guidance for working with poverty-affected and vulnerable communities.
Paul Mitchell has over a decade of international development experience in more than 20 countries across five regions. Paul is an expert in climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and sustainable development. He has led adaptation programs for the Australian aid program and international NGO Save the Children. He has also provided consultancy services for government, non-government and international organisations. Paul focuses on helping organisations integrate climate change risk and adaptation into development programs at all levels and throughout the project cycle, as well as developing and implementing capacity building programs. He holds a BA (Hons) in Cultural Studies and Sociology and a Masters in International Development from UNSW. Paul has completed consultancies in the Pacific for a range of organisations, including: DFAT, the World Bank, Save the Children, CARE and Oxfam. More information is available at www.adapt-develop.com
Over 30 years experience financial & contract management, budgeting, established financial systems in Samoa, Tokelau, SPREP & PIFS. Now, Financial Management Specialist, Samoa's Pilot Project Climate Resilience (PPCR-ECR) and Adaptation Fund-ERCC. Ability to meet funders' accountability criteria to drawdown upto US$3M in 3mnths intervals. Wealth of project experience in PPCR, AF,GEF, ADB & EU writing proposals, manage, monitor, report financial, contract progress & project results across sectors i.e regional economic integration, communities resilience to climate change & disaster risk management. Over 20 years experience in organisational development, institutional strengthening & governance, established performance management, monitoring & evaluation frameworks at regional & national levels. Extensive experience in results-based planning & management,capacity building and institutional reviews. SPREP Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) capacity building management planner.
Dynamic and dedicated professional with strong technical and policy background. Advanced qualifications (PhD) in environmental sciences, climate change & energy. Distinguished record in academia as a teacher, researcher and administrator. Extensive inter-governmental experience at international levels, in climate change. Over 20 years experience in climate change and related issues, mainly in Pacific but also worked in Africa and Asia. Public service experience, having worked for Governments of Australia, Fiji and Marshall Islands and international NGOs such as Independent Diplomat (ID). Considerable experience working for international organisations such as UNEP, ADB, regional organsations such as SPREP as climate change technical expert, and USP. Serves on the UNFCCC Roster of Experts. Extremely familiar with all issues in the UNFCCC climate negotiations. Extensive record of developing, managing, implementing and monitoring projects at national and global levels. Excels at working in a fast paced, multi-cultural environment and has excellent communication skills.