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Raya Salter is an energy law, policy and regulation lawyer and professor working with governments, private companies, institutions and NGOs, in
domestic and international jurisdictions to advance a transition from fossil fuel to clean and renewable power. She is an expert on utility and energy sector reform and energy law and policy with a focus on grid modernization and clean energy integration. Ms. Salter's practice is focused on Hawaii and Pacific islands.

Raya has 10 years of experience as an attorney. This includes NGOs, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund, where she advocated for clean energy policy and utility reform in 9 states. Ms. Salter also worked in private with the firm of Dewey & LeBeouf in New York City, working on utility mergers and acquisitions and energy regulation. Raya has a JD from Fordham Law School and a BA in economics from Wesleyan University. She is also a Adjunct Professor of Law at Fordham Law School.

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
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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 area of expertise is in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering specializing in;
• water resources engineering and integrated management,
• civil and environmental engineering design of infrastructures,
• environmental risk assessment and minimization, climate change analysis,
• urban hydrology, water demand forecasting and allocation framework,
• hydrological, hydraulic and watershed modelling,
• system dynamic and model development.
Qualifications: Ph.D (Env Eng). University of Melbourne (UoM), Australia, ME. The University of Auckland, BE. Unitec Institute of Tech
Employment History:

HARC, Melbourne
Senior Water Resources Engineer – Candor3 Ltd, NZ, 2014 – Present.
Quest Lecturer – Unitec Institute of Technology, NZ, 2014 – Present.
Research Fellow: UoM, Australia, 2014.
Fellow/Lecturer: BYU, USA, 2012 – 2013.
Water Resources Engineer: Division of Water Resources, Utah, USA, 2013 – 2014.
Tutor: UoM, 2008 - 2010.
Env Engineer: Wood & Partners Consultants Ltd, 2007.
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Barbara is a climate change and disaster risk reduction specialist with more than 16 years of direct professional in-the-field experience. She has provides advisory services in policy and program development, program and project evaluation, training and capacity building, to national and local government agencies and international and regional organizations, including the United Nations system and NGOs with focus on disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation for resilient development, food security, gender, policy leadership and advocacy. She is specialised in programmes aiming at climate change and disaster risk reduction mainstreaming into national and sector response policies, strategies and plans.

She has used multi-stakeholder participatory approaches in Pacific countries and has proven hands-on expertise in-the-field. She worked with government and beneficiary institutions to formulate policies and implement programmes. She was responsible for the formulation of national policies, vulnerability assessment, gender, disaster risk reduction and natural hazards prevention and mitigation through the promotion of long-term strategies to adaptation planning for effective aid delivery at national and regional level. In her work she has developed funding recommendation, strategic positioning, partnership and recommended doable and realistic implementation plans, including timelines, costing and roles and responsibilities.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Global Environmental Protection and International Policies and is an active member of the Pacific Infrastructure Advisory Centre and Adaptation Learning mechanism as well as the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery East Asia and the Pacific Disaster Knowledge Network. Barbara is serving on United Nations Women National Committee Aotearoa New Zealand.

Director, Strategy, Governance and Engagement - Responsible for leading the governance and legal functions of the environment department. Responsibilities include the following:
- Providing governance advice to the Secretary of the Department
- Ensuring that the department has access to high quality, timely legal advice
- Ensuring that the risk and audit function of the department is operating effectively
- Chair of the Accredited Purchasing Unit
- Assisting a significant restructure of the Department
During the 12 months I worked with the Government of Nauru, I provided technical, policy and planning advice across a range of areas including climate change, renewable energy, waste management, biodiversity conservation and integrated water resource management. My key projects included:
- Working in close partnership with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to develop and finalise the Pacific Climate Change Finance Assessment Framework - Nauru Case Study
- Working in partnership with GIZ/SPC on the development of an Energy Road Map for the Government of Nauru
- Working with the Government of Nauru to develop and finalise the National Water Sanitation and Hygiene Policy and Implementation Plan
- Assisting in the development of RONAdapt, the Republic of Nauru Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction Framework
For 3 years I was the Executive Director responsible for climate change policy and projects within the South Australian Government. This included the effective financing of climate change projects and ensuring that key institutional and human capacity frameworks were in place. Some of my key projects during this period included:
- The development of South Australia’s Adaptation Framework following exhaustive national and state consultations with academics, the private sector, senior officials and ministers and extensive research. The Framework has received national recognition in Australia for its innovative and collaborative approach to climate change adaptation. The World Bank is also in the process of investigating the approach to determine its applicability to other parts of the world.
- Development and implementation of the South Australian Government’s international climate change program. This program included the provision of assistance to regions in developing countries.
- Work with local government, state government and the private sector on an innovative financing mechanism to facilitate the retrofitting of energy efficiency measures in office accommodation in South Australia.
- Overseeing the development of a low emission vehicle strategy for South Australia to accelerate uptake of these vehicles in the state
- Overseeing various demonstration projects, which were funded through South Australia’s Building Innovation Fund, including trials of mini-wind turbine and co-generation technologies and the installation of green roofs on large office building
I led the development of climate change policy for the South Australian Government. Some key projects that I was responsible for during that time include:
- The development of Tackling Climate Change: South Australia’s Greenhouse Strategy which is South Australia's long-term response to climate change and which was developed after significant consultation with industry, community, academia, local councils and government. The strategy sets out specific goals and targets for South Australia, recommended ways to achieve them and identifies key action areas.
- Work on a net metering policy for the State to increase the use of renewable energy at the household level. As a result of this policy South Australia now has the highest rate of solar roof top penetration in the country, with 170,000 households with solar panels, twice the national average.
During this period I had lead responsibility for the Corporation’s policy and strategy function. This included responsibility for the following functions and projects:
- Providing policy and strategic advice to the Corporation’s Board and CEO
- Developing a strategic plan for the Corporation
- Contributing to the development of a national film policy framework, including a new film funding model
- Developing a business case for a major film studio hub for South Australia
- Working with the South Australian film industry on an industry development plan
- Providing advice to CEO and Board on public sector governance issues
I was responsible for leading the policy function within the office of the secretary of the department. This included responsibility for the following functions and projects:
- Providing policy advice and analysis to the Secretary and relevant Government Ministers on transport, urban planning and urban regeneration issues
- Contributing to the preparation of the Departments budget proposals, budget papers and annual report
- Supporting and advising Boards and Committees associated with the Department
- Providing advice to Ministers and the Secretary regarding law reform including during the parliamentary process
- Developing whole of government and regional approaches to urban regeneration, service delivery and economic development