I am the leader of several large research projects in New Zealand, focussing on adaptation to climate variability and change. I participated in the Samoan Climate Early Warning System project (part of the Samoan National Adaptation Plan of Action) through input to the Agriculture, Health and Forestry sectors project design. I regularly interact with NMHS and sector representatives to identify climate data and information needs and preferred delivery mechanisms. I am involved in the GFCS. I am involved in various Pacific activities, focussing on climate observations, climate outlook and early warnings, training and capacity building, fundamental climate research, and climate and health. I am a co-chair of WMO CCl OPACE-4 and the chair of the PICS Panel.
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)
I have considerable experience in designing and implementing climate change and development projects for inter alia UNDP, UNEP, IFAD and FAO in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific region. My areas of expertise include: i) ecosystem-based adaptation; ii) disaster risk management; iii) REDD+; iv) carbon sequestration; v) community development; and vi) global support programmes for capacity building. I have led teams of international consultants in designing innovative projects for building climate resilience in developing countries. My involvement in project implementation has provided valuable insights that I apply in the design of new projects tailored to local environmental and socio-economic conditions, taking into account lessons learned from previous experiences in project design and implementation. My day-to-day duties are designing, implementing and M&E of climate change and development projects in the public and private sectors.
Kirstie Méheux is a disaster risk management professional at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, specialising in training and professional development of personnel in risk reduction, emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Kirstie has operational experience in disaster response in both Fiji and Australia. Kirstie is also an experienced researcher in the field of disaster management in Pacific Island Countries. Kirstie has delivered training in 12 Pacific island Countries and Territories. Prior to joining SPC, Kirstie worked with Australian Red Cross in their Emergency Services Team, responsible for the recruitment, training, and deployment of volunteers within Australia. Kirstie has also held Visiting Fellowships at the University of New South Wales and Fiji National University with whom she is partnering to develop a Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Disaster Risk Management.
David Wratt retired as Chief Scientist, Climate at NIWA in September 2014. He was responsible for oversight, strategic direction, planning and leadership of NIWA's work on climate, climate change, and climate services. He is still available to assist with climate and climate change related tasks in the Pacific. David has contributed extensively to the work of the IPCC, first as a Working Group 2 Coordinating Lead Author, and then as a Vice-Chair of IPCC Working Group 1. He placed particular importance on information exchange and outreach events in Pacific Island and South-East Asian countries. From his work on development and applications of weather and climate knowledge David has published papers, book chapters and client reports on: climate change assessment, projections, scenarios and impacts; agricultural applications including detailed climate mapping; mountain meteorology; linked rainfall and hydrology modelling; air pollution meteorology.
Annabelle has sixteen years of public and private sector experience in environmental and resource economics and sustainable development. She applies her skills to policy formulation and project evaluation for structuring the management of natural resources such as coasts, seas, freshwater and air. She integrates resource economic techniques in appraisals of projects in the field of climate change, coastal resources management, waste, water quality, control of pest species, energy and aquaculture for projects in China, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific and Europe. She applies monetary evaluation techniques to assess environmental assets such as wetlands and rivers. She drafts in depth technical reports and makes presentations to the public, academia and consultancies. Clients include government departments, research institutes, regional councils, water authorities, the WB, the ADB and the EU. She is fluent in Luxembourgish, English, German, French and Italian.
I am a Principal Scientist and Freshwater Group Manager at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), New Zealand. I have 20 years of experience in environmental science and management. My areas of expertise are water quality data analysis, water quality monitoring operations and network design, invasive species ecology, river hydrology, groundwater ecology, algal ecology and coral reef ecology (60 scientific papers).
Prior to working at NIWA, I was a research ecologist at the United States Environmental Protection Agency. At NIWA, I have led large, government funded research programmes and numerous consulting projects for Maori tribes, NGOs, local, regional and national agencies, and private industry. I have just completed a 15-month sabbatical at The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii. During that sabbatical, I organised citizen-based water quality monitoring for the island of Maui, and compiled coastal water quality data from islands across the mid-Pacific.
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.
Worked as an advisor on Public Health, Health Research Manager for the Fiji Ministry of Health. Lecturer at the Fiji School of Medicine in the School of Public Health. Did a reveiw on the impact of health intervention program amongst youth in Fiji.
Worked as the Director of Environment in Fiji and cordinate the reviw of Environment Laws such as Environment Management Act, Endangered Protected Species Act, Ozone Act and regulations. Take leadership in their enforcement. Worked with development partners in Fiji and the region and also at international level on the implementation of projects and ratification of Multilateral Environment Agreements. Assisted Government of Fiji on the establishment of major development projects that undergoes the EIA processes. Advisor on environmnet management for the Fiji Government and contributed to the development policies in otther sectros such as energy, water, agriculture, tourism, forestry etc.
Currently the Planning and Capacity Advisor for SPREP with focus on development of Environmnet planning tools and raising capacities of countries on Environment Impact Assessment. Worked with Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu and delivered an EIA training for its practitioners. Worked with Fiji, Vanuatu, Tuvalu on the development of the National Environmnet Management Strategies linking it to the their National Sustainable Developmet Strategies and also to regional and international Multilateral Environmnet Agreements. Worked with other divisions of SPREP in the area of waste, climate change and biodiversity
Pacific Water Resources Product Development Lead, 2007 to Present
Product Development Lead for rainfall products and their distribution within the Pacific under a grant funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Research Highlights:
? Developed and disseminated climate products, quarterly climate outlooks, and publications geared toward small islands within the Pacific Basin.
? Hosted in-country dialogues in the Marshall Islands, American Samoa, and Cook Islands which brought users and providers together for a round of targeted and intensive exchange of information.
? Established coastal precipitation dataset and transferred information to water resource managers, disaster managers, and agro-forestry users and the public via website interface.
? Cultivated new and enriched existing partnerships with inter-agency personnel, indigenous Pacific Islanders, nonprofit organizations, and academia.
? Served as the freshwater resources lead on the Pacific Climate Informati
I am a marine chemist with experience in climate change as it pertains to the ocean, namely ocean acidification, increasing sea surface temperatures, and I also have experience in coastal biogeochemical cycles. I have also researched chemical and biological interactions at hydrothermal vents. I am currently working as the Pacific Islands Global Ocean Observing System (PI-GOOS) Coordinator at SPREP, and as part of the Pacific Meteorology Desk Partnership.
I am a climate change and international development professional with 9 years experience managing international climate change projects in 18 countries in the Asia-Pacific. I worked for the Australian Government for 6 years in high-level policy and program roles and served as the Regional Program Manager of the Pacific-Australia Climate Change Science and Adaptation Planning (PACCSAP) Program based in Samoa during 2012-2014. I am skilled in project formulation, program management and policy analysis and specialise in climate risk management, climate resilient infrastructure design, coastal adaptation planning, national adaptation planning, policy-relevant communication, community-based adaptation and program evaluation. I thrive in multidisciplinary and multicultural team environments and have extensive experience applying integrated adaptation planning approaches in Pacific Island Countries.