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.
Consultancy: Conducted consultancy on water quality testing and training for sanitation and water assessment technicians in Samoa. Currently part of team member drafting Samoa's GEF-SGP country programme strategy for its 6th Operational Programme. Drafted methodology for Samoa's second greenhouse inventory. Drafted primary science curriculum for Samoa. Lessons learnt from completed consultancies have been applied to research and teaching to a student community and applied to the assessment of community climate change resilience and conservation projects. Work experience: Researcher on water quality assessment using conventional methods; currently trialing the use of DNA technology for water assessment. Background in ocean acidification. Project member for EU-funded EDULINK Project on Education for Sustainable Development and Pace-Net Plus Project on Health, Food security, marine and maritime and inland water research, Climate change. Experience in budgetary and report writing
I have over 20 years experience in the field of environmental science; specifically focusing on impact assessments of developments in the areas of infrastructure and energy. My expertise although specifically in the area of geology has expanded to cover community development as the study of EIA now encompasses both environmental and social factors of affected communities. My strength in conducting EIA is based on my great understanding of natural processes through the study of geology which allows me to suggest timely mitigation measures to minimize identified impacts of the project on the environment. My working experiences in the petroleum industry gave me great understanding of their operational procedures and likely impacts of fume and leakages on the environment, especially the groundwater lens. My clients range from national (i.e. Tonga) ministries and corporations to regional and international agencies
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
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.
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.
- PhD in Marine Biology from the University of the South Pacific (1998)
- 1998 to 2000: Research Fellow in Marine Botanist and Taxonomy at the University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
- 1999: Consultant for WWF on the Marine Plant Biodiversity of the Cook Islands (Raroronga and Aitutaki)
- 2001 to 2006: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of French Polynesia, Tahiti. Research on the marine plant biodiversity of the Society Islands, Tuamotu, Gambiers, Australs
- 2006 to 2009: Research Fellow, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) in Nouméa, New Caledonia. Research in taxonomy and the marine biodiversity of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Pitcairn, Clipperton, Fiji, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia.
- 2009-2011: Assistant Director, Alliance Française de Suva
- 2011-2015: Lecturer & Researcher in Climate Change, marine bio-fertilisers and food security, biofuels, Ocean Temperature and Ocean Acidification at PaCE-SD, USP, Fiji.
25 years experience in environmental management with a particular emphasis on climate change, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. I have spent more than ten years working on climate change adaptation programs and for most of the last decade I was the Manager Climate Change Science for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Australia. In early 2013 I decided to look at opportunities outside of Australia. Over the last two years I have worked as the Climate Change Expert for the update of the Seychelles National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), lead consultant for two projects on Mainstreaming Climate Change into Key National Natural Resource Management Policies in Swaziland, International Adviser Jamaica 2nd NBSAP, Ecosystem Ecologist for SPREP EbA project on Choiseul Province -Solomon Islands and the consultant to synthesise the Eastern Seaboard Climate Change Initiative Research Program and an Honorary Research Fellow at Macquarie University
With an academic background in Water Resources Engineering (BS) and Urban and Regional Planning (PhD), I have always worked in multi-cultural environments and positions that involve research and extension programs on the critical issues of water, climate, and society. I have more than 20 years of successful working experience in some of the most climate sensitive countries in the Asia-Pacific region (Bangladesh, Hawaii, and the Pacific Islands).
Since 2003, in my current position, I have been actively involved in the following: a) providing tailored, understandable ENSO-based climate information and products to support the planning and management of water resources, fisheries and aquaculture, agriculture, emergency management, utilities, and coastal zones; b) identifying impacts from and providing advisories for current and expected 1-year seasonal variability in rainfall, sea level and tropical cyclone activity; and c) providing periodic educational and event warning outreach.
For fifteen years Julie has supported governments, communities, NGOs, and humanitarian organisations across the Pacific, Asia and Australia to address climate change through their policy, project and program work. Her specialties are adaptation, resilience and gender. She has expertise in research, writing and analysis. She also has substantial expertise in developing and delivering tailored training packages and developing targeted and practical communication materials, guidelines and toolkits for diverse audiences. She has excellent written and verbal communication skills and substantial experience in mentoring, capacity building and leadership. She has a Masters in Sustainability from Murdoch University and is completing a Master of Climate Change from the Australian National University.