ECG is a boutique consultancy firm that is 100% Pacific owned and based in Auckland and Christchurch, New Zealand. We specialise in strategy, evaluation and engagement work and have extensive experience in New Zealand and across the region.
We are a team of 7 qualified professionals who represent a cross-section of different industries including Law, Business, Economic Development, Media and Communications, Sports, Research and Evaluation.
ECG innovates practical, sustainabe and bespoke solutions for various clients using a multi- disciplinary model of critical assessment that is centered on an indigenous Pacific world view.
Ben Sims has 13 years of experience in more than ten countries across Asia and the Pacific. Ben is an expert in climate finance, public financial management, investment planning, climate risk assessments, adaptation planning (asset, community, sector and national levels), policy and institutional design and reforms, and the development of sectoral and national strategies and plans.
Ben has provided consultancy services for government agencies and international organisations, including SPREP, ADB, World Bank, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), UN Environment, UNDP, UNDRR, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Government of New Zealand. Recent consultancies are summarised in this profile - my full consultancy record is provided in my CV.
Ben’s recent work in the Pacific includes leading the development of the PNG National Climate Finance Strategy and PNG GCF Country Programme; completion of climate finance training for government agencies in Fiji, Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands; design of the GCF no-objection procedure for RMI; and analysis on strengthening flood risk management institutions in Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands. He has also led an assessment on mainstreaming climate change into Cambodia’s PFM system and development of an investment plan to strengthen the country’s disaster risk management. Ben was previously a staff member at GGGI, where he worked on establishing the Institute’s country programs in Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
He holds a Master of Environmental Management and Development and Master of Diplomacy from the Australian National University, a Bachelor of Science from the University of Auckland, and is a Certified Expert in Climate Adaptation Finance from the Frankfurt School. Ben is currently studying a Master of Public Health at the University of Auckland part time, where he is researching the impacts of flooding on population health.
Development professional with over sixteen years of experience living and working in the Pacific region, namely Samoa. A national-level consultant specializing in project management, rural livelihoods development, community outreach, policy and statistical analysis and digital innovation in various thematic areas related to international development such as agriculture, environment and industry. Over eight years managing public affairs, political, economic, and military portfolios for U.S. Embassy Apia. Experienced managing numerous grants, programs, media campaigns, development projects, budgets, volunteer placements, and humanitarian missions involving various federal agencies, host nation governments, and civil society organizations. Experienced office leader in a cross-cultural setting. Excellent at multi-tasking and delivering quality work in a timely manner.
James Lewis, Director of Intercoastal Consulting, is a certified practicing civil engineer with over 15 years of experience specialising in coastal engineering throughout Australasia and across the Pacific. He has a broad knowledge of coastal protection design, integrated coastal management and surf amenity. James’s skills extend outside the office where he has led large-scale metocean deployments, analysing the data captured in the field to calibrate numerical models used to inform coastal design.
He has focussed the last 10 years of his career on working in Small Island Developing States (SIDs) in climate change adaptation, concerned primarily with developing climate-resilient coastal protection. James aspires to see the design phase through to implementation; having supported procurement, and contracting and undertaken construction supervision on large projects in remote locations. He aims to provide value and support through the complete project lifecycle including the social, financial and institutional aspects of these projects, endeavoring to understand the administrative, governmental and funding mechanisms specific to each country and community and their relation to the delivery of a successful project.
Using his knowledge of coastal engineering, the ocean and the environment, James’ primary endeavor is to assist coastal communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
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.
Tony is the Director and lead Systems Analyst of Eighty Options, a software development agency based in Hobart, Australia that specialises in application design strategy.
Eighty Options has extensive expertise and experience with web based software solutions, in particular using the Drupal platform and in relation to supporting the needs of multilateral organisations.
I have worked in the field of environment for over 15 years started
1997-2004 worked for the Government of Samoa Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Principal Capacity Building Officer), lead environmental trainings, awareness and communication programmes
2004-2008 UNDP-GEF Small Grants Programme Manager (Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau) covering 5 GEF Focal Areas of Biodiversity, Climate Change and Adaptation, International Waters, Land Degradation, and Persistent Organic Pollutants. Worked with grassroot level with Civil Society Groups (village communities, NGOs, Women, Youth, Faith Based Groups)
late 2008 - 2016 Conservation International from 2008-2013 I worked as the Regional Programme Manager for the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (22 PICs), 2013- 2016 Terrestrial Director worked in Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Biodiversity Conservation Management;
mid 2016 to present - Consultant World Bank Project - PPCR Enhancing Community Resilience.
Please see my LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/juttamay .
More than 25 years of international experience in developing information and knowledge management solutions for institutions and corporate or special libraries. This includes business analysis, needs and maturity assessments, strategy and policy advice, capacity development and project management to enable or optimise digital access for information and collections. Related tasks cover the planning, implementation, administration and adaptation of integrated systems and processes. Themes include international development in the Pacific region, disaster risk management, maritime history, medicine / health, art and design.
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:
Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) technical expert and program manager with a ten-year proven track record in successfully leading large, complex ICT projects, particularly in development, health and education. Proven skills in knowledge and skills transfer having spearheaded the development and production of several high-level strategic project reports, briefings and case studies. Easily adaptable to multicultural environments having led ICT projects in Fiji, Kiribati, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Australia.
