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.
Dr George Carter is a Research Fellow at the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University (ANU). He is also the Director for the ANU Pacific Institute a large network hub of scholars in the university - connecting and promoting Pacific research, teaching and training at the university.
The broad focus of George’s research interest explores Pacific island peoples’ and states influence and agency in international and regional politics. His research interests explore international politics of (negotiations, security, gender, finance, justice, science and traditional knowledge) climate change, geopolitics and regionalism(s), as well as the foreign policy and diplomacies of small island states in the Pacific. Furthermore, he is interested in indigenous philosophy and non-western international relations that focus on the longstanding history, practices, protocols and principles of Pacific political communities, contributing to Oceanic Diplomacy.
He has undertaken research in multilateral forums including climate change, security, ocean, sustainable development negotiations, as well as in regional organisations and national governments across the Pacific. George teaches university and executive courses in international relations, diplomacy, security, environment and climate change, policy, cultural communication, and Pacific studies.
His research and teaching interests are informed by his education, work experience in the Pacific and upbringing through his proud Samoan Tuvaluan, i-Kiribati, Chinese, British ancestry. He serves his family and communities in Samoa, where he holds the matai/chiefly title of Salā.
Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting & Business Tax Law, University of New South Wales, Australia 1999,
Master of Business Administration, USP Fiji, 2007
Member. Samoa Institute of Accountants
IAP2 Certified
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.
Julian Crawford is a Director of EcoSTEPS and a project leader on strategy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster risk management and resilience related projects with over fifteen years’ experience since 2000. He has worked on numerous projects across the Pacific region. Clients have included international inter-government organisations (IGOs) (eg PIFS, SPC and SOPAC), funding agencies (eg DFAT/AusAid, NZAid, UNEP, ADB, UNDP, GEF), major corporations and Australian Federal, State and Local Governments. Acts as a senior adviser on major policy work or is responsible for leading complex projects/programs, often involving the participation of one or more multidisciplinary teams. • Has a strong academic background (Oxford University, UK) and internationally recognized professional status in the field (Director and past-President ISSP (International Society of Sustainability Professionals). • Excellent thematic expertise: including Climate Change, Strategy, Stakeholder
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.
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
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.
Principal partner of auditing and accounting firm: Suá ma Pauga & Associates. Firm won the Gold Star Award on Quality Service. A Chartered Accountant for both New Zealand and Samoan Institute of Chartered Accountants. Working experience in finance, accounting and auditing, research, loan and credit facilities, financial specialist on educational system, climate change, budgeting, financial and business analysis, report writing and survey consultants - in Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand. Finance/Economics Consultant for ADB/Government of Samoa in Education Sector Project II. Lecturer in University on Government Accounting, Finance and Accountancy, and Head of Departments and providers of various workshops on finance, budgeting, and financial reporting.
Key skills: providing strategic, targeted knowledge network, evaluation and technical services to international environmental and development programs and institutional capacities. Thematic interests and work experience: project design, implementation and results based monitoring: child rights, disability mainstreaming in UN funds and programs, inclusive education sector planning, biodiversity strategic planning, disaster risk reduction , climate change and resilience, natural resources and protected area management, ecosystem services and environmental science. Policy and bottleneck analysis and implementation problem resolution including work in environment sectors, poverty alleviation and education, improved service delivery and transparent government initiatives. Advocacy interests focusing on one UN programming, education for sustainable development, education systems and planning, climate change adaptation, emergencies, disaster risk reduction and resilience. Communication: training and education experience, including organizing and leading workshops. Research: data analysis, writing/editing materials for a wide variety of audiences and preparing content for websites.
