Emma is an environmental scientist with demonstrated experience in providing outcomes-focused sociotechnical advice to support decision makers across the Pacific Region. Emma applies her technical leadership in integrated water management and environmental science, climate change resilience and adaptation, behavioural studies, and strategic communications. Supporting her role, is extensive practical, managerial, and business relationship expertise, built through experience working across 14 Pacific Island Countries for over 15 years. She has coordinated partnership and collaboration with governments, businesses, community groups, service providers and NGO’s to generate compelling outcomes. Emma is of Fijian & South African heritage, born in New Zealand and living in Suva, Fiji.
Work experience:
- Integrated Water Management; Water Security Assessment and Project Design
- Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist (infrastructure and conservation)
- Community engagement and development
- Climate Resilient Infrastructure assessment and project design
- Project Management; Proposal writing, technical reporting, team management
- Mindfulness Mentor and Yoga Teacher (RYT500)
A marine scientist by training with 20 years’ experience in projects-programme management in the fields of marine coastal habitat-species conservation and environment sustainability, not for profit fundraising targeting community resilience building initiatives and climate change adaptation-disaster risk reduction planning and practice. As a practitioner with multidisciplinary skillset and experiential knowledge deduced from a Pacific perspective through the provision of technical support and coordination; peer learning and capacity building; applied research in aspects of tropical island biodiversity and conservation, community-based fisheries, livelihoods and ecosystem-based management approaches; communications and knowledge management of project impact results; climate change advocacy, and policy advice. This brings with it an established Pacific network that furthered meaningful connections to other sector work in agriculture, community based inshore fisheries, coastal protection and water resources management. Experience working in culturally diverse settings at an international (WWF Pacific, National Geographic Pristine Seas), regional (SPREP, FAO), national (Rotary Pacific Water Foundation/ WWF) as well as with community-based organisation (LäjeRotuma Initiative) and engaging with other indigenous groups.
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.
Experienced environmental and social specialist and project developer handling projects in the Pacific Islands supported by multilateral and bilateral agencies such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the Adaptation Fund and GCF. Over 11 years working within the frameworks of funding agencies safeguard policies, developing concept activity design, reviewing detailed designs, project implementation, identification of impacts, development of environmental management strategies and integration of meaningful stakeholder engagement into project activities. Very familiar with the cultural contexts across the Pacific region and experienced in the complexities and sensitivities of working at the project level in Small Island Developing States.
