Key Qualifications:M.Sc. in Environmental Studies and 8 years of experience in project management and grant writing; Expertise in climate change adaptation and renewable energy issues and policy in the Pacific Islands. Current Position: Climate Change Advisor, SPC :- Advisor for a €11.4 million European Union funded climate change adaption project being implemented in nine Pacific Island nations; - Lead project activities in the countries of Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Tonga, including designing, implementing and reporting on €0.5 million on-the-ground sectoral projects, in the fields of agro-forestry, environmental health, and coastal protection;- Enable mainstreaming climate change into national policies, such developing the Tuvalu Agricultural Marketing Plan;- Support country preparedness for climate financing by facilitating use of country procurement and finance procedures where possible;- Lead a Pacific-wide initiative to disinfect water using UV light
My interest in the environment started as I worked as a climatologist in the Apia Observatory, Samoa, where I learnt a lot about the close links between the weather/climate and other components of the environment including humans. I later took an academic career with the National Uni of Samoa (participate in the environment issue) in its inception years until the end of 1999.
Moving to Australia in 2000 allowed me to take an administration pathway with the University of NSW until 2006 and a theology degree. This helped developed a more complete toolkit to deal with the environment issue. Returning to Samoa this decade gave me an opening to connect in a more meaningful way with communities which are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Currently I'm enjoying this work immensely with the OLSSI.
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.
My area of expertise is in aviation meteorology from the safety oversight perspective which includes conducting safety audits, assessing documents and approving aviation documents as well as conducting meteorological safety awareness and training for the meteorological service providers.
I served for eighteen (18) years with Papua New Guinea National Weather Service (PNGNWS) in various capacities such as technical officer, assistant forecaster and weather and climate forecaster.
I joined CASAPNG in 2012 as the aviation meteorological services inspector and I am with them for the last four (4) years. The capacity as the aviation meteorological service inspector ensures that any meteorological service entity supplying aviation meteorological services to the aviation users in Papua New Guinea must comply with the fundamental requirements of ICAO’s Annex III and WMO’s aviation meteorology requirements.
I have over 9 years experience in the field of engineering and construction.
I have undertaken roles from project manager to structural and civil design engineer for residential & commercial projects in urban and remote locations in Fiji, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Samoa, and Nauru.
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
Independent Consultant with over 15 years experience in supporting donor funded development programmes to improve M&E capacity; support for development of frameworks and systems for M&E; training and mentoring in participatory and user-sensitive approaches to M&E; development evaluation (developmental, formative and summative; participatory and mixed methods). Countries of work experience include: Pacific- Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, FSM, Kiribati, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea. As well as Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Honduras, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao PDR, Nicaragua, Mozambique, Peru, Philippines, Syria, Uganda, Timor Leste, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. Clients include SPREP/ADB SPCR: Pacific Regional Track; Australia Indonesia Partnership for Emerging Infectious Diseases; Indonesia Australia Forest Carbon Partnership; Fiji National University (School of Medicine); USAID’s Global Climate Change Program and many others
1. Climate change (UNFCCC) and biodiversity (CBD) expert implementing biodiversity audits and natural resources accounting in mangroves, wetlands, and ecosystems in close to 30 villages in Samoa 2010-2015
2. Adviser as a GEF expert (2012-2016) in Global CSO Network and Regional Focal Point for the Pacific region
3. Expert and consultant on land desertification (UNCCD) and one of two who developed USD$5million GEF-5 project for Samoa 2014
4. Adviser for Communities Engagement Policies and part of World Bank governance as Indigenous Observer in Climate Investment Funds (2012-2015)
5. Expert on SIDS Issues and lead the Major Groups in Samoa, Pacific, and other regions develop their positions for the SAMOA Pathway 2014
6. Expert on sustainable development issues wrote extensively to critique the Rio to Rio+20 processes from perspectives of SIDS, CSO, Indigenous Peoples and local communities (2002-2015)
7. Part of Governance and member of the Boards and steering Committees that lead and manage the work of Global Forest Coalition, CBD Alliance, Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Bioculture Assessment (IPCCA), International Alliance of Indigenous Peoples Tropical Forests around the world (2002-2005)
8. Manager of the GEF/SPREP Pacific regional programs as defacto DRR of UNDP/Samoa for 8 years (1994-2001)
9. Lead UNCED negotiations process for Samoa as Director and Head of Department of Lands Surveys and Environment (1991-1993), now MNRE, and started the Environment Division
10 Started and Head own private Surveying Company in Samoa (1980-1988)
David Cox has extensive experience in water, wastewater and civil infrastructure works. His experience includes Master Planning, utility assessments, project management, program management, Capital Works Program Assessments, detailed design, construction supervision, contract management extending from feasibility studies through to Team Leader/Project Manager roles in international projects. He has particular skills in infrastructure development, water and wastewater supply, non-revenue water (NRW), utility management and commercial services provision arrangements.
David is a Director and founder of NRW Specialists Pty Ltd and has degrees in civil engineering, law and business.
I have worked at NIWA as a Climate Scientist since May 2013. This position has involved analysing climate data, and assisting with climate data quality assurance procedures. I disseminate weather and climate data to a variety of end-users including colleagues, government and industry stakeholders, media and the general public. I have supported NIWA's National Climate Centre by authoring monthly climate summaries for New Zealand, and co-authoring two reports regarding climate variability and change in Samoa. My specialist expertise includes climate variability and change, and climate and weather extremes.
Dr Simon Torok is Co-Founder and Director of Scientell Pty Ltd, a science communication and marketing consultancy specialising in environmental and climate change communication.
Simon has a Graduate Diploma in Science Communication from the Australian National University, and completed a PhD in climate change science at the University of Melbourne’s School of Earth Sciences, examining Australia’s historical temperature record.
He has advised in Brazil on communicating science to your people, and in England he has worked as a climate change communicator at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. In Australia he has worked as Communication Manager with CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, where he developed strategies to deliver communication campaigns that – using new, social and traditional media – raised awareness of the impact of CSIRO’s research into understanding our oceans, coasts, climate and atmosphere. He has also worked as editor of CSIRO's magazines for young people.
Paul Holper is an experienced environment and science communicator. He spent 25 years at Australia’s CSIRO in senior positions. He managed the Australian Climate Change Science Program, with over 100 researchers. Prior to that he was Communication Manager for CSIRO Atmospheric Research. He convened international climate change ‘GREENHOUSE’ conferences and has run workshops in Australia and overseas. Paul is a Director of Scientell PL. He has worked for iCLIM, the Pacific climate change adaptation program run in collaboration with SPREP. This entailed visits to Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu and extensive discussions with government officials, representatives from NGOs and environmental practitioners. He has produced climate change brochures for the Victorian Government, highlighting the latest projections and adaptation options. He has an honours degree in chemistry and qualifications in science communication and education. He has written 23 science books for children and for adults.