Dr Robert Kay helps bring people together to solve complex climate change adaptation challenges through data-driven, collaborative action. He is a sought-after technical analyst, strategist and facilitator. His strengths are delivering innovative climate projects to deliver meaningful change as a Team Leader or Technical Expert. He has 30+ years of experience in climate change risk assessment, adaptation, climate financing and strategy in the Pacific. He has worked on risk assessment and adaptation projects in the Pacific for the ADB, World Bank, multiple United Nations, USAID and AusAid. He is a respected and trusted advisor in the Asia-Pacific with a network developed over decades of purpose-driven project delivery. Dr Kay advised Pacific Island delegations to COPs, including being part of the climate adaptation financing team at COP21 in Paris. His private sector advisory experience developed through working with businesses to undertake holistic climate risk assessments and tailoring practical measures for adaptation strategy implementation to mainstream climate policy. His mission is to drive innovative solutions that equitably accelerate climate action, especially for our most vulnerable people, as well as accelerate the adoption of innovative adaptation business solutions.
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.
Alan Brent is a Professor and the inaugural holder of the Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems in the Faculty of Engineering at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. He holds Bachelor degrees in Engineering (Chemical) and Philosophy (Sustainable Development); Master degrees in Science (Environmental Engineering), Engineering (Technology Management), and Philosophy (Sustainable Development); and a PhD in Engineering Management. He is a Fellow of Engineering New Zealand, a member of the IEEE Power and Energy Society, and an executive committee member of The Sustainability Society. More information on his research can be found on his ORCID profile (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3769-4512), and LinkedIn profile (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanbrent/).
Safeguard Manager (Consultant) - South Tarawa Water Supply Project (GCF, ADB, WB)
National Climate Change Coordinator - Office of te Beretitenti/ President - Kiribati
Assistant Project Manager - Third National Communication (TNC)
Volunteer - Environment and Conservation Division
Over 30 years of experience (largely at Director, Team Leader, Lead Consultant or Chief Technical Adviser level) in the Pacific islands, the Mekong subregion of SE Asia and elswhere working in energy policy and planning (including renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy security) and broader environmental policy/planning. Clients have included the Asian Development Bank, Australian Aid, East-West Center, European Commission (EC), Climate Parliament, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Environment Facility, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Greenpeace Pacific, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN Oceania), River Commission (MRC), Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), New Zealand Aid, Pacific Power Association, Regional Community Forestry Training Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RECOFTC, Bangkok), Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC and earlier SOPAC), Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Swiss Agency For Development and Cooperation (SDC), various UN agencies (UNDP, UNFPA, UNIDO, UNOPS, UNESCAP), and the World Bank. Recent work related to climate resilience has been in the energy sector and includes the following:Pacific Small Islands States Scoping Study and Project formulation (senior consultant, Global Green Growth Institute, 2013-2014) Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Pacific, phase 2 (International energy efficiency expert), International Institute of Energy Conservation and Asian Development Bank; January 2012 - early 2015)o Evaluation of EU/SPC North Pacific Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Project (North REP; team leader, Cardno, 2012)o Report on Pacific Perspectives on the Challenges to Energy Security and the Sustainable Use of Energy (consultant, UN ESCAP, 2012)o Improving climate change resilience for energy sector investments (lead researcher for peer-reviewed report, ADB, 2011-2012)
