Lucy Jacob designs and manages ocean-related projects in the Pacific region. Lucy has a background working on marine conservation in the Pacific and has also worked as the Ocean programme manager for WWF New Zealand. She is the manager for the Climate and Biodiversity-Smart MSP Programme.

Bex Ansell is MFAT’s Implementation Lead for the Climate and Biodiversity-Smart Marine Spatial Planning Programme, working bilaterally with Kiribati, Palau and the Solomon Islands. She works to support these Governments to build their marine spatial planning capability, and design approaches for their communities and contexts.

Kaiea Awira works at the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources in Kiribati as the Project Manager for the Phoenix Islands Marine Spatial Planning project. Kaiea is experienced in the development of ocean policy and planning within Kiribati, and also runs his own fishing company.

Sally Bailey Is the Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Coordinator at SPC, leading efforts to support Pacific Island nations in sustainable ocean management. With a background in marine conservation and experience in seafood trade and fisheries policy, she specialises in stakeholder engagement, policy development, and capacity building to advance ecosystem-based MSP across the region.

Dr. Tom Brough is a marine ecologist at NIWA with expertise in spatial and population modelling to inform stakeholder participatory processes for marine spatial planning. He has a specialisation in marine mammal ecology and works regularly across dual-knowledge systems.

Malcolm is Program Manager for the Pacific Data Hub hosted at SPC, specializing in data governance and innovation for the Pacific. With over 30 years’ experience in NGOs, startups, and multinational consulting, he leads the efforts to build regional data capability, while pursuing a Professional Doctorate on governance frameworks for data collaboratives.

Mr Halatoa Fua has been Director of the National Environment Service (NES), since 2022, leading initiatives focused on environmental policy, conservation, and sustainable development. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Cook Islands Tourism Corporation. He is instrumental in helping to advance the work of the Marae Moana Technical Advisory Group.

Ms Lukes Isechal is the project manager for Palau's MSP work. She previously worked as an applied scientist for the Palau Centre at the Palau International Coral Reef Centre and was awarded the European Union’s Erasmus Mundus scholarship for her master’s research in ecohydrology.

Siosinamele Lui is the Climate Traditional Knowledge Officer based at SPREP. She is the project lead for the CaB Smart MSP project to develop guidance for ensuring Traditional Knowledge is appropriately included in MSP processes. She previously spent a decade working for the Samoa Meteorological Service, in particular the Geoscience and Ocean observations.

Dr. Carolyn Lundquist has a joint position at NIWA and the University of Auckland. She is an interdisciplinary scientist, and specialises in development of decision support tools to inform stakeholder participatory processes for marine spatial planning and ecosystem based management from coasts and estuaries to the deep sea.

Mr Brendon Pasisi is the project manager for the Niue Ocean Wide Project. He worked for the government of Niue for 25 years, including as the Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He trained as a Marine Biologist and runs his own fishing charter and marine services business.

Ms Faye Siota is the Deputy Director Inshore Fisheries in Solomon Islands. She has many years’ experience working to support communities with climate-resilient fisheries. She previously worked at WorldFish and has extensive experience implementing Community Based Resource Management.