Leadership development, organisational development, leadership culture design, strategic facilitation at both a local and global scale, consulting on social, cultural and environmental development.
Leanne is a visionary leader experienced in organisational development, strategic facilitation, and policy advisement across business, government, and NGO sectors. With a strong background as a former Chartered Accountant coupled with deep knowledge in sustainability and corporate social responsibility, she excels at navigating diverse stakeholder needs and delivering actionable recommendations. Her skills can be accompanied by her husband, Greg, who complements this with his abilities in research, developing comprehensive strategies and reports, and finding creative yet practical solutions to complex problems. His background in design thinking and psychological understanding enables him to analyse multifaceted issues and communicate solutions effectively to diverse audiences. The combined skills result in fostering sustainable, equitable solutions that bring positive impacts across environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions, with particular experience working in Pacific Island contexts.
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.
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.
