Mr. Sommai Phon-Amnuaisuk is the Director for Asia-Pacific of the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC), based in Bangkok, Thailand. Sommai is a graduate electrical engineer with a master's in business and marketing management. He has over 30 years of experience in promoting and implementing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in 26 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific region, primarily in the fields of building energy audits, equipment efficiency (MEPS and energy labeling), Demand Side Management (DSM), clean energy technologies, market assessment and development energy efficiency policies and programs. He has provided technical assistance for projects and programs funded by ADB, APEC, DFID, GGGI, SPC, SPREP, UNF, UNDP, UNEP, USAID, the European Union, and the World Bank/ IFC.
Dr. Jason Hui Hong Yapp is an expert in climate finance, renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable development with over 25 years of experience in consultancy services for high-profile international organizations, including UN agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNIDO, WFP), the Green Climate Fund, ADB, EU Commission, USAID, GIZ, GGGI, IUCN, IISD, and the Commonwealth Secretariat. His extensive expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of areas critical to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development:
1. Climate Finance Leadership: Dr. Yapp excels in climate finance, demonstrated through his significant contributions to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) readiness projects, capacity building, and the development of funding proposals. His work includes supporting NDAs in Asia, developing GCF proposals for countries like Malaysia, and crafting country programs for nations across the globe.
2. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Dr Yapp possesses deep technical knowledge in renewable energy and energy efficiency, contributing to the scaling up of renewable initiatives and improving energy sustainability in various sectors.
3. Sustainable Agriculture Expertise: With a Ph.D. in crop genetics and physiology, Dr. Yapp brings a unique perspective to sustainable agriculture and land-use practices, focusing on climate-smart solutions and conservation agriculture to enhance agricultural competitiveness and sustainability.
4. Carbon Pricing Project Development: As Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Business Development Expert, Dr Yapp had supported AES (US Utility Corp) to develop carbon offset projects to generate carbon credits in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam for sale at the Carbon Trading system. Dr Yapp is familiar with the Emission Trading System and the UNFCCC approved methodologies to calculate carbon credits based on the ex-ante (baseline) and ex-post GHG (project) emissions.
5. Project Management and Implementation: His role in managing and implementing multi-country climate-related projects showcases his adept project management skills, including leading international and national teams, and overseeing the execution of complex projects.
6. Policy and Strategy Development: Dr. Yapp has been instrumental in developing climate-related policies, strategies, and frameworks at national and regional levels, contributing to National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and climate National Adaptation Plan. In Malaysia.
7. Capacity Building and Technical Training: His commitment to capacity building is evident in his role in conducting training workshops and capacity-building activities across various technical areas, thereby enhancing the skills of stakeholders in climate finance and sustainable practices.
8. International and Cross-cultural Experience: Dr. Yapp's work spans diverse geographic regions including Asia, Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, and the Caribbean, highlighting his adaptability and ability to navigate diverse cultural and environmental contexts.
9. Engagement with Multiple Sectors: His expertise in fostering collaboration among public and private sectors, civil society organizations, and international financial institutions underscores his ability to build partnerships and engage a wide range of stakeholders in the climate finance domain.
10. Innovation in Climate Solutions: As the founder of Eden Environmental Consulting Ltd, Dr. Yapp continues to provide cutting-edge technical and financial consultancy, driving innovation in demand driven climate adaptation and mitigation solutions that are sustainable, scalable and replicable.
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.
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.
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.
Environment & development consultant with 10 years’ experience in 7 sectors in 16 countries, including 10 Caribbean & Pacific SIDS. Key highlights:
2014 Climate Change Project Officer, The Australian National University
2013-2014 Sustainable Financing Consultant, Cuso International
2013 Marine Protected Areas Expert, GOPA Consultants
2012-2013 Policy Research Manager, Caribbean Policy Research Institute
2012 Executive Director/Park Manager (World Heritage Site), Jamaica Conservation & Development Trust
2011 Climate Change Consultant, Environmental Solutions Ltd
2011-2012 Environmental Project Manager, Conrad Douglas & Associates Ltd
2007-2009 Environment & Sustainable Development Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Currently self-directing PhD research into climate change adaptation in SIDS. Seeking to use my qualifications & skills to help limit human-induced climate change, & ensure that adaptation actions in SIDS meet their development & resilience needs & goals.
My specific areas of expertise are in climate financing, project proposal development, monitoring and reporting for key development partners including EU, WB, UNDP, Adaptation Fund and GEF. I am well versed with EC project management cycle, budget support mechanisms and GEF, WB and AF project proposal processes. In 2012, I was engaged as the Public Finance Expert for the Climate Change Public Expenditure and Institutional Review (CPEIR) exercise and it provided information on how relevant agencies utilised their budgets and resources to address climate change issues. I was engaged as the Climate Change Adaptation Specialist by UNDP in 2013 to provide specialist inputs into the development of an economy-wide GEF funded USD 14m project proposal for climate change adaptation which was approved in 2014. I am currently the Monitoring and Reporting Expert for two multi-million dollar climate resilience projects targeting all the communities in Samoa and its funded by PPCR-WB and AF-UNDP.
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.
