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.
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.
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.
Project and Programme Design, Preparation, Implementation and Evaluation
Capacity Building, including training, institutional strengthening and policy development and planning
Disaster and Climate Risk Assessments and Management - nationally as well as for specific sectors, islands and communities
Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Financing
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.
Gillian has extensive experience in understanding climate change impacts and undertaking vulnerability assessments; adaptation planning; and developing climate change policy in the Pacific including in Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea as well as in Indonesia the Philippines and Australia. Gillian's experience is often largely focused on ecosystem adaptation, and food security As well as working with National Governments to develop and implement Climate Change Policy, Gillian has also worked closely with NGOs and community groups to focus on community- based climate change adaptation. Gillian uses community capacity building skills to strengthen the competencies and abilities of people and communities so they can overcome the challenges they face (vulnerabilities) like those associated with climate change. Gillian also has understanding about costal defences for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management.
Over 27 years of experience on international development projects, focusing on coastal management, ICZM, coastal adaption, climate policy, wetland biodiversity management and catchment management. Over 12 years’ experience of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) including programmes that involve participatory planning processes, conducting feasibility studies, the assessment climate change and small island state environmental management and the design of programme implementation involving climate change.Over 10 years’ experience in institutional assessment and identification of capacity and organisational constraints within public administration, private sector, civil society (mostly in small island states). Extensive knowledge of donor agency development policies relating to disaster risk, climate change and coastal adaptation. Strong working experience for SPREP since 2011 in Tuvalu, Tonga, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Fiji, FSM, Samoa. Strong experience in many other SIDs globally.
I am a highly experienced climate change and development consultant with extensive experience in the Pacific region working with national and sub-national governments, NGOs and Red Cross Societies. I have designed, managed and evaluated climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste. Some project I have recently been involved in include: (i) Development of an activity design document (ADD) on ocean acidification in the Pacific (funded by NZ MFAT and implemented by SPREP); (ii) Review of sanitation and water services in informal settlements in Melanesia (commissioned by the World Bank); (iii) Evaluation of the Vanuatu Humanitarian Team (Oxfam); (iv) Design of marine ecosystem based community based adaptation project in Nissan district, Bougainville, PNG (CARE International); (v) Evaluation of the project "Supporting Community Planning for a More Resilient Vanuatu" (French Red Cross and Vanuatu Red Cross Society)
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.
Palanitina is a highly qualified, experience and respected senior Samoan public service leader with significant experiences in health governance and health system strengthening. public health services in general, public health education, health promotion, disease prevention and high level public health leadership, management and administration. She had held senior executive positions in the Samoan Government, including the Director General of Health (DGoH) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ministry of Health for 9 years (Feb 2005 – Feb 2014) and Assistant CEO of the Division for Women in the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) from Sept 1998 – Jan 2005. Palanitina has championed health system strengthening (HSS) based on the WHO Framework on HSS 2005. She led and completed in 18 months (Feb 2005 – July 2006) the realization of the public health reform which began in 1998. She was instrumental in the development and advocacy for passage through Parliament of 18 legislations plus several health policies within her terms of leadership; to practically implement the MOH’s new monitoring and regulatory functions. She has been advocating for women’s empowerment at policy and program levels. She led the practical translation of regional and international conventions through empowerment programs, including the establishment of women’s leadership networks. She led the establishment of the Partnership for the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women, which the Samoan Government ratified in 1992. A sought after adviser, Palanitina has evaluated a number of Pacific regional and country programs, including for AusAid before becoming DFAT, WHO and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. She has facilitated country and regional collaborations and, through her consultancy and government CEO appointments, Palanitina has had significant involvement in the delivery and review of regional and some international programs through WHO.
