A highly skilled professional with extensive experience in strategic policy development, donor-funded project management and governance, and human resource development and planning. Expertise in leading and managing donor-funded projects and programs involving community and human development, governance, public policy reform, economic empowerment, and capacity development, ensuring impactful and sustainable outcomes through inclusive stakeholder engagement and strategic collaboration. Highly skilled in the nuances of policy development and human resource development and planning, gained from hands-on involvement in various public and private sector organizations. Enthusiastic about embracing innovative opportunities and developing fit-for-purpose solutions that yield substantial public benefit and assure a return on investment. Possess a comprehensive skill set focused on sound evidence-based decision making in all aspects of the policy development cycle. Holds an extensive professional background in successfully managing, delivering, and surpassing the expectations of public and private entities, development partners, and community stakeholders. Offers technical advisory acumen, particularly in applying rigorous monitoring and evaluation techniques to foster good governance and accountability. Dedicated to forming and sustaining robust, enduring connections with the community, colleagues, and development partners in Samoa and beyond. Excels in networking, adept at building and leveraging connections across diverse groups to facilitate collaborative initiatives and partnerships, particularly in Samoa and its neighboring regions.
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.
I am a climate scientist with a background in meteorology and weather/climate prediction. My main area of expertise is in seasonal to interannual climate variations, including teleconnections and Southern Hemisphere mid-latitude circulation variability. I have over 40 years' experience in the area and have been involved in writing the last three IPCC Working Group 1 Assessment Reports (AR4, AR6, AR6). I have four years' experience as a Commissioner on the NZ CLimate Change Commission and have worked on shaping climate change policy for several years. I am also an experienced science communicator, winning the NZ Prime Minister's Science Communication Prize in 2018.
Co-founder of Takutea O Kiva Ltd (TOK Consulting), a Cook Islands based consultancy company that works exclusively on projects occurring in the pacific, with a team wholly comprised of indigenous pacific based professionals.
Positions held include CEO of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce, Business Operations Manager for Avaroa Cable Limited Cook Islands, Business Improvement Manager for Southern Cross Health Society NZ, and Project Manager for Vodafone NZ.
Passionate about climate change, disaster risk management, business mentoring, and the holistic involvement of indigenous communities in Country planning activities. Advocate at heart for openly sharing knowledge and forming new connections.
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.
Joe is an experienced policy advisor and strategist who has worked on climate issues in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Indo-Pacific since 206. He is currently working on the NZ Emissions Reduction Plan, National Adaptation Plan and advising on mitigation, Article 6 and International Carbon Markets for NZ's Climate Directorate.
His previous work includes providing diplomatic, strategic and technical advice for Pacific leaders at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), providing advice and designing campaign strategies for regional and international civil society organisations (incl. Greenpeace, Caritas, BOGA, Fossil Fuel Treaty), and helping clients achieve their strategic objectives through cross-sector engagement and partnerships.
Joe is a Samoan and has sound understanding of the cultural nuances required to engage with Pacific leaders and communities and has an extensive professional network among Climate professionals, civil society and community groups which enables him to work collaboratively throughout the region to achieve the objectives of his clients and Government partners.
