Dr. Eric VanderWerf has worked in the Pacific region for over 30 years. He currently is the Executive Director and Director of Science for Pacific Rim Conservation, a non-profit organization based in Honolulu, Hawaii. His research and management has focused on birds, including seabirds, forest birds, and wetland birds, as well as habitat restoration and protection. He has extensive experience with predator exclusion fences, bird translocations, seabird social attraction, and avian ecology and conservation in general.
Marine scientist specializing in innovative approaches to marine conservation. A proven track record in designing and implementing research programs, analyzing complex environmental data (microplastics, water quality), and communicating findings through technical reports and stakeholder engagement. Successfully secured research funding and built capacity within Indigenous communities. With experience spanning the Caribbean and Pacific Northwest, I bring a unique perspective to addressing the pressing challenges facing our oceans
A marine scientist by training with 20 years’ experience in projects-programme management in the fields of marine coastal habitat-species conservation and environment sustainability, not for profit fundraising targeting community resilience building initiatives and climate change adaptation-disaster risk reduction planning and practice. As a practitioner with multidisciplinary skillset and experiential knowledge deduced from a Pacific perspective through the provision of technical support and coordination; peer learning and capacity building; applied research in aspects of tropical island biodiversity and conservation, community-based fisheries, livelihoods and ecosystem-based management approaches; communications and knowledge management of project impact results; climate change advocacy, and policy advice. This brings with it an established Pacific network that furthered meaningful connections to other sector work in agriculture, community based inshore fisheries, coastal protection and water resources management. Experience working in culturally diverse settings at an international (WWF Pacific, National Geographic Pristine Seas), regional (SPREP, FAO), national (Rotary Pacific Water Foundation/ WWF) as well as with community-based organisation (LäjeRotuma Initiative) and engaging with other indigenous groups.
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.
25 years experience in environmental management with a particular emphasis on climate change, biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. I have spent more than ten years working on climate change adaptation programs and for most of the last decade I was the Manager Climate Change Science for the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Australia. In early 2013 I decided to look at opportunities outside of Australia. Over the last two years I have worked as the Climate Change Expert for the update of the Seychelles National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), lead consultant for two projects on Mainstreaming Climate Change into Key National Natural Resource Management Policies in Swaziland, International Adviser Jamaica 2nd NBSAP, Ecosystem Ecologist for SPREP EbA project on Choiseul Province -Solomon Islands and the consultant to synthesise the Eastern Seaboard Climate Change Initiative Research Program and an Honorary Research Fellow at Macquarie University
