Staff
  
Email: alan@sopac.org Extension: 289 |
Alan Freshwater Co-ordinator- Drinking Water Safety Planning Alan joined SOPAC in June 2009. Qualified as a health inspector in 1977, he has spent 32 years in public health, the last 14 with Ministry of Health in New Zealand, working in environmental health, food safety, enforcement, and most recently with the drinking water team, administering the NZ drinking water assistance programme. In the 1980s, as a VSA volunteer, he surveyed, designed and built rural village water supplies in Solomon Islands. He is the Co-ordinator- Drinking Water Safety Planning (DWSP) at SOPAC and will be working on the development and implementation of DWSP's. |
Email: arieta@sopac.org Extension: 246 |
Arieta Sokota Water Project Officer Arieta joined SOPAC in October 2003, providing admistrative/technical support to the Water Sector. She graduated from USP with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Geography and Population Studies in 1998 and completed Diploma studies in GIS in 2000. Previously she was employed at the Ministry of Agriculture - GIS Unit as a GIS Senior Technical Assistant. |
Email: chelsea@sopac.org Extension: 273 |
Chelsea Giles-Hansen WDM Programme Officer/Water Engineer |
Email: d.duncan@sopac.org |
David Duncan Environmental Engineer David joined SOPAC as the Environmental Engineer for the Pacific Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Project in July 2009. He has provided a range of stakeholders Britain, China, Indonesia and Australia with practical, technically sound, inclusive solutions to water resource challenges and is looking to contribute similarly to the IWRM project. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics and an MSc in water resources technology and management. David’s 15 years experience includes engineering, scientific and policy roles on integrated water resource management projects across groundwater, surface and coastal waters, wastewater, water supply and reuse management. |
Email: davidt@sopac.org Extension: 267 |
David Turner Hydrologist - Pacific HYCOS David joined SOPAC in May 2008 as Hydrologist on the Pacific HYCOS project. He embarked upon a career in environmental monitoring after graduating from Manchester University (UK) with a BSc (Hons) in Geography & Geology. Over the last 9 years David has developed his hydrology skills working for the Environment Agency of England & Wales, and more recently the Otago Regional Council and Auckland Regional Council in New Zealand. His practical experience in field hydrology, instrumentation and data management will be an important asset in his capacity building role where he will be implementing hands-on training and project assistance within Pacific HYCOS member countries. |
Email: edwin@sopac.org Extension: 230 |
Edwin Liava'a Database/GIS Specialist - Pacific HYCOS Edwin Liava’a joined SOPAC as the Database/GIS Specialist for the Pacific HYCOS project in May 2008. He holds a BSc in Computer Science and Information Systems with 15 years experience in the field of GIS and information technologies undertaking tasks ranging from designing and development of MIS/GIS solutions for utilities, FOSS awareness and solutions to technology transfer though training students. Prior to joining SOPAC, he was employed by the Retirement Fund Board as Senior Systems Administrator and Acting ICT Manager after teaching and coordinating an ICT diploma programme with the Tonga Institute of Higher Education (TIHE). Edwin has also tutored computer science undergraduate level courses with the University of the South Pacific (USP) Distance and Flexible Learning (DFL) programme in Tonga, with a decade of experience in Power Utility GIS. His most recent milestone was the successful completion of development and deployment of MIS/GIS for Electric Power Corporation (EPC) of Samoa as GIS Specialist for consultancy company AVON Solutions Ltd. |
Email: fane@sopac.org Extension: 287 |
Fane Waqa Project Officer IWRM Fane joined SOPAC in February 2007, providing administrative support to the IWRM Project – Water Sector. She is a final year student from USP pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Economics and Banking & Finance. Previously she was attached to TPAF as a Reconciliation Officer, than received her Certificate in Business Accounting at NZPTC while assisting a privately owned transportation business. |
Email: iva@sopac.org Extension: 262 |
Iva Bakaniceva Programme Officer-Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Iva joined SOPAC in October 2008 as a Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer. The WASH programme aims to improve the lives of the Pacific Island people access to water resources and sanitation through improved management of water resources and the development of adequate and sustainable water supply, improved facilities and hygienic practices for all. Iva graduated with a Degree in Environmental Science from the Auckland University of Technology in 2003. Before joining SOPAC, she was a Senior Field Trainer with an NGO Live & Learn Environmental Education for the last 5 years working in schools and communities. |
Email: komalr@sopac.org Extension: 226 |
Komal Raman Project Officer - Pacific HYCOS Komal joined SOPAC in November 2004 as a trainee attachment and after completing her degree in Environmental Science at University of the South Pacific, she is currently the Project Offcier for the Pacific Hydrological Cycle Observing System Project .In the past she was involved in the water and climate updates, preparations for HYCOS and IWRM proposals to the European Union Water Facility and with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded Pacific Resource Centre for Water and Climate Project. |
Email: linda@sopac.org Extension: 227 |
Linda Yuen Project Officer - Pacific HYCOS Linda graduated from the University of the South Pacific in April 2005 with a BSc in Environmental Sciences. She joined the Water Sector as a Temporary Attachment in June 2005 and her work mainly involves assisting the Water Resources Officer and other Water Sector staff with their duties. |
Email: llyod@sopac.org Extension: 288 |
Llyod Smith Project Coordinator - Pacific HYCOS Llyod joined SOPAC as the Project Coordinator for the Pacific Hydrological Cycle Observing System, HYCOS Project in February 2007 and holds a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Environmental Science He brings experience from a background of Engineering and Hydrological survey in New Zealand with government and regional authorities. Since 1990 he has been based in Australia and has worked for an international consulting company in the water sector in over 12 countries across the Pacific, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Under the HYCOS Project, he will be developing regional hydrological skills across the pacific, through training and technology transfer enabling collection and transmission of quality hydrometeorological and groundwater data for resource assessment, planning and regional development. Llyod takes practical hands on approach and believes that this pro-active approach is necessary for a successful outcome for the Pacific HYCOS Project. |
Email: marc@sopac.org Extension: 229 |
Marc Overmars Manager- Water and Sanitation Marc joined the International Agricultural College Larenstein to study Tropical Land and Water Management in 1988. After graduation in 1992 he continued with a study in Hydrogeology at the Free University in Amsterdam where he obtained his Drs degree in 1994. He obtained his first work experience in Southern Taiwan where he assisted in groundwater recharge research at a Polytechnic Institute. He has also worked for a consultancy firm in The Netherlands (SGS EcoCare) working on groundwater remediation programs at former petrol stations and has spent 2 years at UNESCO’s regional office in Jakarta as an associate expert in tropical hydrology implementing hydrological activities within UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP) for South East Asia and the Pacific. Marc is currently adviser for the Water sector. |
Email: m.wilson@sopac.org Extension: 258 |
Marc Wilson Regional Project Manager (GEF Pacific IWRM) Marc Wilson joined SOPAC as the Regional Program Manager for the GEF-IWRM program in January 2009. He holds an MSc and has worked as a natural resource researcher, manager and development aid consultant in over 30 countries in many regions of the world. He has lived and worked for extended periods in both Melanesia and Polynesia. He has worked as a CEO in both the public and private sectors and has extensive consulting experience with national, regional and international organizations. He established and was the foundation Director of the Australian Maritime College’s Graduate School of Marine Resource Management and has published widely in natural resource development and management. He has a particular interest in integrated management of natural resources and the challenges of institutionalizing real stakeholder participation in decision making and in developing non government stakeholder participation capacity. In 2002 – 2007 he was the Australian Team Leader for the AusAID funded Tonga Integrated Fisheries Management Project and prior to joining SOPAC he worked as a strategic planning adviser for RAMSI in the Solomon Islands. |
Email: peter@sopac.org Extension: 231 |
Peter Sinclair Project Adviser - Pacific HYCOS Peter joined SOPAC as the Project Advisor for the Pacific Hydrological Cycle Observing System, HYCOS project in November 2006. He holds a BSc in Geology and MSc in hydrogeology with 15 years experience in Australia working on the assessment, development and management of a range of groundwater systems including large alluvial systems and fractured and porous rock systems. He is interested in developing localised solutions relevant to local needs. |
Email: rhondar@sopac.org Extension: 259 |
Rhonda Robinson Project Adviser IWRM Rhonda graduated from the University of the South Pacific with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1998 majoring in Biology and Chemistry and worked for SOPAC from 1998-2004 as the Water Sanitation and Hygiene Officer. She then went on to do further studies in Diplomacy and Environmental Management and Development from January 2005-June 2006 at the Australian National University and has since rejoined SOPAC as the Project Adviser for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). |
Email: ruth@sopac.org Extension: 257 |
Ruth Urben Community Assessment and Participation Advisor Ruth moved to SOPAC as the Community Assessment and Participation Adviser with the GEF-Pacific Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) Project from its start in January 2009. In this position, she will be working with the project partner agencies in each country to strengthen the integration of the communities in the planning, implementing, monitoring, evaluating and replanning cycle of IWRM activities that each country will be undertaking. By this means, community capacity to manage water resources and wastewater is enhanced, and the IWRM decisions that will be made are better able to yield livelihood improvements. Participatory planning of natural resource management for sustainable livelihoods has been the focus of Ruth’s work for quite a few years now, in Asia, Africa and the Pacific. She graduated from University in the UK as an agriculturalist. |
Email: subhashni@sopac.org Extension: 219 |
Subhashni Raj IWRM Project Officer Subhashni joined SOPAC as the IWRM Programme Officer in July 2009. She graduated from Bangalore University in 2006 with a Bachelors of Science in Microbiology, Chemistry and Zoology (CZMb). She has previously worked as the Programme Assitant for IWRM programme at USP and also as a consultant with SOPAC in setting up the IWRM Resource centre. She also underwent an Environmental stewardship training with the East West Centre studying the environmental movement in the United States.
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Email: tasleem@sopac.org Extension: 261 |
Tasleem Hasan Water Services Coordinator Tasleem joined SOPAC in April 2005. He heads the Regional Water Quality Monitoring Programme which is to be implemented from 2006-2009. The programme will build the local capacity of SOPAC member countries in the field of water quality monitoring in terms of laboratory analysis and data storage. Before joining SOPAC he used to work as a Scientific Officer at the Institute of Applied Sciences, the University of the South Pacific (USP). Tasleem graduated from USP in 2004 with a Master of Science Degree in Chemistry. |
Email: tiy@sopac.org Extension: 290 |
Tiy Chung Communications Advisor Tiy joined SOPAC in July 2009. He is the Communications Advisor for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and HYCOS. He completed his Masters in Journalism from University of Technology, Sydney in 2003 and holds a double Bachelors Degree in Social Anthropology, Chinese Politics, Madarin and Linguistics from Macquarie University. He has previosuly worked for Asia Pacific Forests and Greenpeace Asia Pacific in a similar capacity as well as a journalist covering a whole range off issues from the Beijing Olympic games to producing documentaries for UNDP. He also bring with him experience in creative media.
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Email: verenaisi@sopac.org Extension: 274 |
Verenaisi Bakani Senior Administrative and Travel Officer Verenaisi joined SOPAC in May 2009 as Senior Administration and Travel Officer for the GEF Pacific IWRM Project.She graduated from the University of the South Pacific (USP) with a Diploma in Public Administration in 1995 and is pursuing her BCom degree, majoring in Management & Public Administration. Previously she was employed at the University of the South Pacific as Personnel Assistant to the Dean, Faculty of Islands & Oceans. |
