Dr Robert Kay helps bring people together to solve complex climate change adaptation challenges through data-driven, collaborative action. He is a sought-after technical analyst, strategist and facilitator. His strengths are delivering innovative climate projects to deliver meaningful change as a Team Leader or Technical Expert. He has 30+ years of experience in climate change risk assessment, adaptation, climate financing and strategy in the Pacific. He has worked on risk assessment and adaptation projects in the Pacific for the ADB, World Bank, multiple United Nations, USAID and AusAid. He is a respected and trusted advisor in the Asia-Pacific with a network developed over decades of purpose-driven project delivery. Dr Kay advised Pacific Island delegations to COPs, including being part of the climate adaptation financing team at COP21 in Paris. His private sector advisory experience developed through working with businesses to undertake holistic climate risk assessments and tailoring practical measures for adaptation strategy implementation to mainstream climate policy. His mission is to drive innovative solutions that equitably accelerate climate action, especially for our most vulnerable people, as well as accelerate the adoption of innovative adaptation business solutions.
Hailing from the Pacific Island of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, Joshua is a climate finance practitioner focused on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). He specializes broadly in climate finance transparency, sustainable finance taxonomies, and the blue economy, focusing on providing strategic policy and program implementation. In his previous work experiences, Joshua worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop regional country profiles of 6 Pacific Island nations and provide recommendations on blue economy sectors for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. In addition, he delivered a stock take report on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, NDCs, and energy subsidies across the following countries of Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, FSM, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, and Tuvalu. He has also served as a climate negotiator for the FSM at COP28 and COP29 to cover topics on oceans and climate finance and is a UNFCCC Nominated Expert for Micronesia.
Joshua currently serves as the Oceania Regional Representative for the Sustainable Ocean Alliance working on implementing the Blue Prosperity Entrepreneurship Fellowship (BPEF) in FSM and Tonga and is supporting Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) in the region. Additionally, he works full-time as a Climate Finance Specialist for the Center for Clean Air Policy (CCAP), where he directly supported the development of the recently launched Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) Climate Finance Transparency Guide. Subsequently, Joshua has contributed extensively to the research and analysis of sustainable finance (green) taxonomies across 52+ jurisdictions, which has led to pr
His current affiliations include serving as an Expert Reviewer for the seventh edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7) UN Environment Programme (UNEP), a researcher UNFCCC YOUNGO Finance & Markets Working Group on establishing Loss and Damage and the NCQG for SIDS, and a affiliate of the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (ODI-RESI) on debt distress and access to climate finance, further demonstrating his rooted understanding of the Pacific.
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.
Dr. Neeraj Shankar is an experienced professional with a strong track record in the design, delivery and review of climate adaptation, Loss and Damage (L&D), and disaster management projects across the Pacific and other climate-vulnerable regions. Brings deep expertise in strategy development, policy review, climate risk governance, and institutional capacity strengthening for national governments, regional organisations, and development partners.
Notable work includes supporting the co-development of four L&D projects under New Zealand MFAT’s Addressing Climate Change Loss and Damage Programme, designing and implementing early warning systems, conducting climate and disaster risk assessments, and preparing national Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) status reports. Also offers specialised experience in Non-Economic Loss and Damage (NELD), including protection of cultural heritage, intergenerational knowledge, human mobility impacts, and social cohesion.
Currently developing the first Pacific-wide regional evidence base for Loss and Damage for SPREP, strengthening the foundation for future L&D programming, reporting and access to climate finance. Recognised for building strong, trust-based relationships with diverse stakeholders, government agencies, regional bodies, community networks and technical specialists, and for facilitating inclusive, culturally grounded, multi-stakeholder consultations.
Krishneil Narayan is the Executive Director and Principal Consultant at Sustainable Future Consultancy in Fiji.
As a development professional with 18 years of experience, he specializes in sustainability and climate policy formulation, translating the policies into activities that benefit communities and accessing climate finance for Pacific Island countries.
As an advisor, Krishneil provides his expertise in climate and disaster-resilient development project design, implementation, and evaluations to various governments, NGOs, development organizations, and the private sector.
Krishneil previously worked as a climate change negotiator at the United Nations for over a decade, prioritizing the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and contributing to the adoption of the 2013 Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage, as well as the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.
Previous clients have included: Oxfam Australia, Bread for the World (Germany), Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, UNDP, UN Environment, the Pacific Community (SPC), UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), New Zealand Government (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade), Fiji Government (Ministry of Women), International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
