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
EMPLOYMENT
RECORD:
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Bartlett has been living and working in Melanesia since 2002, currently as Knowledge Manager for the Australia-Pacific Climate Partnership. His extensive work with communities, civil society, private sector and governments in the Pacific have shaped his current action research interests. These include innovative and science-based solutions and strategies for dealing with change in the Pacific, including climate change. After his PhD at James Cook University, he joined Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom's lab at Indiana University to investigate the emergence of networks of community-based MPAs and taboos. Dr. Bartlett resides in Port Vila, Vanuatu and makes frequent consulting, speaking and training trips around the world.
GRI Stakeholder Council Oceania (Vice Chair) GRI Focal Point Australia (Chair) Environment Institute of Australia and New Zeenaland (EIANZ) Association for Sustainability in Business (ASB) International Association for Public Participation (IAP2 The Total Environment Centre – Board member The Climate Institute – Climate Partner Green Cross Australia – Business Adaptation Network Infrastructure Sustainability Council Australia – Founding member Asian Pacific Network for Climate Adaptation
Director - Environment Policy of Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) Sydney, Australia; key negotiator to provide policy advice to the Minister of Climate
Executive Director - Environment at Hornsby Shire Council, Hornsby Australia
Senior Researcher, Sustainability at Institute for Sustainable Futures, ISF, Sydney Australia
Legal Specialist (Climate Change/Environmental Law/MEAs)
Community Development Specialist
Proposal Writing
Community Trainer Specialist
Capacity building specialist
Environmental and social safeguards specialists
Countries of Work Experience: Australia, New Zealand USA Canada England Europe Union countries Japan South East Asia Pacific India Africa Brazil
Senior Executive -Sustainability and Climate Change at RPS Group. Worked with leading international and Australian organisations on a host of climate risk strategies. Role was to help clients understand the exposure, adaptive capacity and sensitivity of assets, operations, services, suppliers and communities to climate risks and to assist them in proactively improving their planning and preparedness. Role included providing training and mentoring in climate and sustainability across the private and public sector. Board member and Vice Chair of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Stakeholder Council for over six years representing Oceania – collaborating on corporate social responsibility (CSR) with governments, international agencies and leading companies across the globe. Chair of GRI Focal Point Australia over that same period. Member of the Asia Pacific Network for climate adaptation.
Responsible for managing a service line of 50 plus professional staff globally who provide sustainability services. Stella provided services to many of Australia’s top 100 companies on their sustainability performance and services; this work has included corporate social responsibility work. Stella lead consultancy advice to major public and private sector clients internationally on urban planning, green building, environment, CSR, Sustainability Strategy and GRI reporting. She led the development of tools, methodologies and protocols, and was also responsible for the oversight of GHD’s 2009 CSR Reporting framework, including an advisory role to GHD Board. While at GHD Stella was responsible for many of the firm’s strategic partnerships, including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) – both the global network and the GRI Focal Point Australia based at the Saint James Ethics Centre.
Key Government’s negotiator with major local government, corporate, industry and other stakeholders on complex environment, planning and sustainability reforms. Provided policy advice to the Minister of Climate
Change, Water and the Environment, as well as the Premier, Planning, Local Government, Health and Transport Ministers. This advice spanned a large variety of policies, strategies or legislative changes. Pioneered climate change adaptation plans (COAG National Climate Change Adaptation Framework) and led the publication of NSW State of the Environment Report as well as running water and air community education campaigns (Water for Life, greenhouse and Clear the Air Campaigns. Responsible for the delivery of major multi-million dollar environmental and sustainability programs including the Sustainability Advantage, Clean Air Fund, the Stormwater Trust and more recently work on the Urban Sustainability Program and Clean Air Healthy Communities Fund
While working at Hornsby Shire Council, was responsible for a April 2009 Australia Director -Environment department of 140 staff and managing a budget of AUD 23 million. Within this position was responsible for the planning and delivery of Council’s environment services, strategy and policy development. Role also included the delivery of award-winning sustainability initiatives and projects.
Established the ISF Local Government Unit from scratch -a small scientist and professional team.
In the first year of operation of the Unit generated > $400k consultancy income. The Unit undertook research and consultancy for broad range of clients on sustainable development, community development community, water, transport, waste, energy and environmental policy. Project included environmental management reviews and sustainability reporting for wide range of business, government and local council clients. Responsibilities included leading a pioneering action research project on local sustainability involving a large number of key councils in NSW and was author of the Commonwealth Local Agenda 21 Manual (1999).
Member of Siosiomaga Organisation of Samoa
Treasurer of Goshen Trust Board
Member of Woman Floriculture Club of Lautoka Fiji
Manager at Micro Finance Unit, Lautoka, Fiji
Lecturer in Agriculture/Horticulture and Business Manager APS, Samoa
Countries of Work Experience: Fiji, Hawaii