Emma is an environmental scientist with demonstrated experience in providing outcomes-focused sociotechnical advice to support decision makers across the Pacific Region. Emma applies her technical leadership in integrated water management and environmental science, climate change resilience and adaptation, behavioural studies, and strategic communications. Supporting her role, is extensive practical, managerial, and business relationship expertise, built through experience working across 14 Pacific Island Countries for over 15 years. She has coordinated partnership and collaboration with governments, businesses, community groups, service providers and NGO’s to generate compelling outcomes. Emma is of Fijian & South African heritage, born in New Zealand and living in Suva, Fiji.
Work experience:
- Integrated Water Management; Water Security Assessment and Project Design
- Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist (infrastructure and conservation)
- Community engagement and development
- Climate Resilient Infrastructure assessment and project design
- Project Management; Proposal writing, technical reporting, team management
- Mindfulness Mentor and Yoga Teacher (RYT500)
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.
Fifteen years of experience with environmental assessment and planning, sustainable development and climate change in government, inter-government, non-government and academic organisations. Extensive knowledge of the agricultural, mining, energy and tourism sectors. Examples of work and project experience: incorporated climate change and disaster risk management considerations in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) guidelines and EIA training courses for Pacific Island countries; audited the energy and water consumption of mainstream and eco-tourism operators in Queensland, Australia; developed a methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions for the Australian tourist accommodation sector; identified mechanisms for building social-ecological resilience in tropical savanna landscapes; developed environmental research and management recommendations for seabed mining in northern Australia; authored the Darwin Harbour Water Quality Protection Plan (Australia).