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
I am a social scientist and freelance researcher with a passion for working in international development. I have experience working on various gender and social research and consultancy contracts in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. My most recent research focuses on understanding gender in the Pacific and aims to better integrate gender considerations into development projects, particularly related to natural resource management. I have a Master of International and Community Development, and a Bachelor of Social Science (Environment). I am a native English speaker, and am proficient in Solomon Islands Pijin and Papua New Guinean Tok Pisin.
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
Environment & development consultant with 10 years’ experience in 7 sectors in 16 countries, including 10 Caribbean & Pacific SIDS. Key highlights:
2014 Climate Change Project Officer, The Australian National University
2013-2014 Sustainable Financing Consultant, Cuso International
2013 Marine Protected Areas Expert, GOPA Consultants
2012-2013 Policy Research Manager, Caribbean Policy Research Institute
2012 Executive Director/Park Manager (World Heritage Site), Jamaica Conservation & Development Trust
2011 Climate Change Consultant, Environmental Solutions Ltd
2011-2012 Environmental Project Manager, Conrad Douglas & Associates Ltd
2007-2009 Environment & Sustainable Development Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Currently self-directing PhD research into climate change adaptation in SIDS. Seeking to use my qualifications & skills to help limit human-induced climate change, & ensure that adaptation actions in SIDS meet their development & resilience needs & goals.
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.
I am a strategic thinker and advocate for better environmental management including climate change and biodiversity conservation. I have over 18 years of experience working in both private sector, government and with civil society organizations in Vanuatu. This way of thinking has led to legislative amendments to existing laws governing environment in Vanuatu where from 2010 to 2015, over 10 bills were passed by the national parliament of Vanuatu to become law. These legislative changes has also the resulted in increased revenue (VT5m) for Government in 2013 compared to previous years where the average was VT500, 000.
I have devoted my last two years in Vanuatu Government on climate change, not only as a Climate Change Negotiator (2012 and 2013) but also as Acting Director General of the newly established Ministry of Climate Change from March 2014 to September 2014.
Matt is a Sustainability Planner with 30 years of experience in local governance, environmental planning, development planning, climate change and sustainable development programmes and development management projects. His experience in all levels of government has centred on community development frameworks, the integrating of environment and development (decision-making), participatory land use planning and governance. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge in: vulnerability assessments, risk management, adaptation approaches and methods, capacity needs assessments (CNAs) and NRM Policy development, as well as technical skills in impact assessment, coastal management, GIS/Remote sensing, soil and water management, and monitoring & evaluation (M&E) of programmes and projects. Matt has lead teams in rural development, climate change adaptation, integrated coastal management, disaster risk reduction, poverty alleviation, sustainable tourism, urban development and land use planning
My area of expertise is in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering specializing in;
• water resources engineering and integrated management,
• civil and environmental engineering design of infrastructures,
• environmental risk assessment and minimization, climate change analysis,
• urban hydrology, water demand forecasting and allocation framework,
• hydrological, hydraulic and watershed modelling,
• system dynamic and model development.
Qualifications: Ph.D (Env Eng). University of Melbourne (UoM), Australia, ME. The University of Auckland, BE. Unitec Institute of Tech
Employment History:
HARC, Melbourne
Senior Water Resources Engineer – Candor3 Ltd, NZ, 2014 – Present.
Quest Lecturer – Unitec Institute of Technology, NZ, 2014 – Present.
Research Fellow: UoM, Australia, 2014.
Fellow/Lecturer: BYU, USA, 2012 – 2013.
Water Resources Engineer: Division of Water Resources, Utah, USA, 2013 – 2014.
Tutor: UoM, 2008 - 2010.
Env Engineer: Wood & Partners Consultants Ltd, 2007.
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Dr. Margaretha Wewerinke has a broad range of experience related to human rights, climate change and sustainable development. She has advised governments and NGOs on questions of international law at climate negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in relation to potential legal claims related to loss and damage caused by climate change. She designed and taught a 10-day capacity building workshop on the added value of a human rights approach to climate change for Pacific Island states at the University of the South Pacific's PaCE-SD in Suva, Fiji in 2011 and is now teaching International Climate Change Law and Regional Environmental Law at the Emalus Campus of USP in Vanuatu. Her consultancy and capacity building work has focused on using domestic courts as well as international mechanisms - such as the UN Human Rights Council - to raise concerns related to climate change and its adverse effects on the enjoyment of human rights.
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.
I am a highly experienced climate change and development consultant with extensive experience in the Pacific region working with national and sub-national governments, NGOs and Red Cross Societies. I have designed, managed and evaluated climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction projects in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste. Some project I have recently been involved in include: (i) Development of an activity design document (ADD) on ocean acidification in the Pacific (funded by NZ MFAT and implemented by SPREP); (ii) Review of sanitation and water services in informal settlements in Melanesia (commissioned by the World Bank); (iii) Evaluation of the Vanuatu Humanitarian Team (Oxfam); (iv) Design of marine ecosystem based community based adaptation project in Nissan district, Bougainville, PNG (CARE International); (v) Evaluation of the project "Supporting Community Planning for a More Resilient Vanuatu" (French Red Cross and Vanuatu Red Cross Society)
Over twenty two years international experience in Europe, Caribbean, South America and Pacific of coastal engineering, shoreline strategy management planning, assessing natural coastal processes and the impacts of human activities on the coastal zone. Expertise covers a broad range of technical disciplines with particular skills in the areas of hazard and climate risk assessment, coastal processes, coastal engineering and shoreline management, disaster risk reduction, climate change and adaptation, environmental assessment, and community participation. Over fifteen years’ experience in the Pacific region, having worked initially for the Government of Kosrae, in the Federated States of Micronesia, as Coastal Management Adviser. Since 2003 has led or been involved in a wide range of projects in American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu.