I have considerable experience in designing and implementing climate change and development projects for inter alia UNDP, UNEP, IFAD and FAO in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific region. My areas of expertise include: i) ecosystem-based adaptation; ii) disaster risk management; iii) REDD+; iv) carbon sequestration; v) community development; and vi) global support programmes for capacity building. I have led teams of international consultants in designing innovative projects for building climate resilience in developing countries. My involvement in project implementation has provided valuable insights that I apply in the design of new projects tailored to local environmental and socio-economic conditions, taking into account lessons learned from previous experiences in project design and implementation. My day-to-day duties are designing, implementing and M&E of climate change and development projects in the public and private sectors.
I am a climate change and international development professional with 9 years experience managing international climate change projects in 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific. I worked for the Australian Government for 6 years in high-level policy and program roles and served as the Regional Program Manager of the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning (PACCSAP) Program based in Samoa during 2012-2014. I am skilled in project formulation, program management and policy analysis and specialise in climate risk management, climate resilient infrastructure design, coastal adaptation planning, national adaptation planning, policy-relevant communication, community-based adaptation and program evaluation. I thrive in multidisciplinary and multicultural team environments and have extensive experience applying integrated adaptation planning approaches in Pacific Island Countries.
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.
I'm a trained Environment & Climate Change Adaptation Practitioner/Specialist with over 10 years of practice and consultancy experiences. Provided technical advice to Governments of Fiji, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu on policy changes, marine resource use, climate change. Area of expertise includes; policy analysis, environment management systems, V&A, M&E, mainstreaming climate change adaptation interventions into planning processes, MPA, community engagement and workshop facilitation. Authored book on, Climate Change Adaptation and the Coastal Zone of S.Tarawa (2014), "Kiribati: the inter-linkages and the array of adaptation barriers and limits". Co-authored the "Kiribati Second National Communication Report to the UNFCCC" (2013) and other technical reports.
With over 16 years of experience in sustainable energy development, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, my work focuses on increasing energy access, improving livelihood, and building resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries. I have provided services to donors and development agencies; including IFAD, Sida, UNESCO, UNEP and USAID; both being part of an organization as well as independently. I have been extensively involved in understanding the needs of developing countries of Asia in relation to improving access to energy supply and resilience to climate change; and developing innovative solutions to address those needs in ways that are appropriate to local contexts. Areas of my expertise are:
• Climate Change Adaptation: Adaptive capacity for municipalities; community based adaptation planning; and climate vulnerability assessment.
• Climate change mitigation: Strategies for low carbon development, sustainable waste management, sustainable city planning, and Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Sustainable energy: Energy access through renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency in buildings and facilities, and policy analysis for cleaner technologies in SMEs.
A multiple disciplined evaluation and sustainability consultant with over three years experience working in the Pacific region and 18 years experience working in Australia. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in climate change adaption, proposal writing, sustainability education, behaviour change (community engagement), monitoring and evaluation, carbon accounting, permaculture, international development (water security, food security, coastal adaptation), strategic planning and information and communications technology. Hard working and professional attitude complimented with friendly personality. Understands the challenges faced by Pacific Small Island States and has the ability to be flexible and creative in responding to these challenges. Co-founder of Pacific Research and Evaluation Associates (PREA) http://www.prea.com.au . All consultancy work outlined below is with PREA. Let us work together to achieve a good outcome.
Senior management experience working in international and regional institutions in the Pacific: Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (Coordinator/Legal Adviser); United National Development Programme-GEF Unit Asia-Pacific (Regional Technical Adviser- Pacific and Timor Leste); Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency(Director Operations). Secretariat Pacific Community (Climate Change Adviser), Pilot Program Climate Resilience- Regional Track Pacific (Team Leader/Program Manager); Provision of high level policy advice to leaders and senior government officials of Pacific island countries on environmental and natural resource issues of importance to Pacific at international, regional and national settings. In particular the effective integration of environmental and sustainable development considerations into national development planning and decision processes; Over 15 years management experience with expertise in strategic planning and implementation of programmes; preparation of annual work plans and budgets, staff management, organizational review and change; Formulation, development, implementation support and monitoring of projects for the Global Environment Fund, United Nations Environment Programme, European Union, ADB, World Bank, Australia, Canada and New Zealand; Experienced in Partnership building and resource mobilization; Excellent communication skills and success at managing personnel from different cultures and backgrounds in challenging and competitive environments; Responsible for driving the development and finalisation of The Pacific Islands Regional Framework on Climate Change 2006-2015 (endorsed by Pacific Island leaders in 2006) and the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy 2010-2015 (endorsed Pacific Island Fisheries Ministers May 2010). The importance of effective integration of environmental and sustainable development considerations national development planning is recognised in both strategic frameworks as well as the Pacific Plan endorsed by Forum Island leaders; Technical Consultant for Asia Development Bank and co-drafter of the Planning Urban Management Act, Samoa 2004; Experienced in advocacy, legal drafting, litigation, drafting ministerial and official interventions, preparations of briefs.
Work with the Yap State Marine Resource Management Division to design, implement, and monitor projects that are related to both the exploitation and conservation of marine resources. Most projects aim to build the capacity of government agency personnel, community-based organizations, and coastal communities to manage their coastal resources. Projects related to climate change are mostly aimed at improving food security; such as aquaculture and alternatives to reef fishing in conjunction with the establishment of more protected areas.
Over 20 years’ experience working on climate change and disaster risk reduction issues with communities, governments and international entities. Much of my work focused on building the capacities and capabilities to address adverse impacts of climate change and disaster risk reduction issues at the national, regional and international levels and in assisting countries mobilise financial, technical and human resources to implement and manage climate change activities, projects and programmes.
I have particular experience in conducting stakeholder consultations with villages/ communities, national governments and with international community organisations. I have especial skill/know-how in preparing technical and policy documents and reports relating to climate change issues and concerns. I have assisted Pacific islands countries in developing project proposals for funding and implementation of projects including Pacific Islands Climate Change Assistance Programme, national communications, national adaptation programmes of action, vulnerability and adaptation assessment, national and regional adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects, adaptation policies and/or strategies (see CV attached).
I also have experience in developing a policy and/or a policy framework such as NAPA, International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, Pilot Programme on Climate Resilience, and Strategic Programme on Climate Resilience, Pacific Adaptation Strategies Assistance Programme, national and regional Global Climate Change Alliance programmes on adaptation and based on stakeholder engagement/consultations.
I have a good knowledge and high level of familiarity and understandings of the Pacific small island developing states government system having lived in and worked in and for the region for more than three decades. Additionally I have undertaken mentoring work with various experts with each of the countries through capacity building and training on various aspects of climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. I have a have a good command of English (oral and written) and a good level of understanding of some of the local languages.
I have the necessary track record of achievements, experience and skills to provide scientific and technical assistance and policy guidance to the Pacific SIDS. and others on climate change activities, projects and programmes.
The consultant's key fields of expertise include Environmental Management (Env Mgt Sys, Env Audit, EIA, SEA), Sustainable Development, Climate Change (Adaptation, Mitigation, Science, Policy), Community Waste Management, Community Based Adaptation, Ecosystem-based Adaptation. Proficient project management and project performance management skills that include practitioner skills in project management in controlled environments; skills in concept, grant and full project and funding proposal writing, climate financing proposal writing, design, work planning and budgeting. Skilled in project appraisal of project aspects such as costs, timescales, quality, scope, risk and benefits; deliver of quality project products, monitoring, reporting and evaluation. Offers training and workshops on V&A Assessments that include technical and community-based tools and frameworks, socio-economic assessments, lessons learned, results-based management, survey design and implementation, M&E design and implementation, gender & climate change. Range of working experiences at different levels of development intervention - international and regional (negotiations, policy, advocacy, lobbying, media campaigns and presentation, knowledge management); regional and national (project management, policy, science, gender, adaptation, mitigation, media campaigns, public awareness) and community (CBA, EbA, V&A, negotiations, training, gender mainstreaming level, implementation, negotiation skills on climate change, waste management, attitude and behavioral change campaigning). Have on-the-ground and field experiences in 14 Pacific Island communities, particularly in Palau, Marshall Islands, Fiji, Niue, Cook Islands, and Papua New Guinea. Sector expertise areas of climate change adaptation activities and results in integrated coastal zone management, water resources management (specializing in low-lying atolls), food security, food production, agriculture, aquaculture, forestry, tourism and health.
I am a trained natural products and synthetic organic chemist. I have however expanded my skills to cover executive management, technical areas such as general and hazardous waste management, pollution matters, contaminated site clean-up, management and implementation of MEAs, especially the chemical cluster of MEAs (Basel, Minamata, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Waigani conventions), policy development for environmental development issues, project management and implementation.
I am a very friendly person by nature and am very easy to get along with.
Over 30 years of experience (largely at Director, Team Leader, Lead Consultant or Chief Technical Adviser level) in the Pacific islands, the Mekong subregion of SE Asia and elswhere working in energy policy and planning (including renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy security) and broader environmental policy/planning. Clients have included the Asian Development Bank, Australian Aid, East-West Center, European Commission (EC), Climate Parliament, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Environment Facility, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Greenpeace Pacific, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN Oceania), River Commission (MRC), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), New Zealand Aid, Pacific Power Association, Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC, Bangkok), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC and earlier SOPAC), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Swiss Agency For Development and Cooperation (SDC), various UN agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNOPS, UNESCAP), and the World Bank. Recent work related to climate resilience has been in the energy sector and includes the following:Pacific Small Islands States Scoping Study and Project formulation (senior consultant, Global Green Growth Institute, 2013-2014) Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Pacific, phase 2 (International energy efficiency expert), International Institute of Energy Conservation and Asian Development Bank; January 2012 - early 2015)o Evaluation of EU/SPC North Pacific Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Project (North REP; team leader, Cardno, 2012)o Report on Pacific Perspectives on the Challenges to Energy Security and the Sustainable Use of Energy (consultant, UN ESCAP, 2012)o Improving climate change resilience for energy sector investments (lead researcher for peer-reviewed report, ADB, 2011-2012)