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Ocean, Islands, Futures - Insights from SPREP & Local Resilience

Tracks
Ocean, Islands, Futures
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
10:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Speaker

Prof Kathryn Bowen
Professor
University of Melbourne

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Kathryn is Deputy Director at Melbourne Climate Futures, and Professor of Environment, Climate and Global Health at The University of Melbourne. She works in global environmental change, global health and governance issues. She was a Lead Author on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report.
Ms Ofa Kaisamy
Pacific Climate Change Centre, SPREP

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Ms 'Ofa Kaisamy is Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre. She studied a Master of Laws in Environment Law at the Australian National University. In her role, she drives innovation and ensures practical information is shared successfully between regional meteorological services, climate practitioners, policy makers and project implementers.
Ms Yvette Kerslake
Technical Adviser, Science To Services
Pacific Climate Change Centre SPREP

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Yvette is Technical Adviser for Science to Services at PCCC, translating scientific research into practical services that enhance climate resilience across the Pacific. Having previously worked at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi-Country Office in Samoa, Yvette has emphasized the importance of partnerships and practical applications of scientific research.
Elise Moo
The University of Melbourne

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Elise is a Research Fellow, Climate Change and Human Health at The University of Melbourne. An experienced policy, research and advocacy practitioner, she champions action on climate change and environmental sustainability in international development and public health. Her research spans planetary health, climate resilient development, sustainable healthcare, and implementation science.
Fred Patison
PCCC

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Fred is Finance Readiness Adviser at PCCC with over 15 years of experience managing environment and climate change portfolios in the Pacific. He has a wide range of experience in conducting capacity building programmes and hails from the Solomon Islands where he worked for SPREP’s Ecosystem-based Adaptation programmes.
Dr Annabelle Workman
Senior Research Fellow
University of Melbourne

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Belle is a qualitative researcher in climate change, human health, policy development, air quality and just energy transitions. She is a Senior Research Fellow at Melbourne Climate Futures, where she is co-Deputy Director of the Climate CATCH Lab and the co-Lead of the Policy and Politics Stream.
Mr Arthur Wyns
The University of Melbourne

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Arthur is a Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne. He is an experienced advisor on climate policy and global environmental governance, having worked for national governments, UN agencies, and academic institutions. He is an editor of the Journal of Climate and Health and governance co-lead of the climate-migration-health network.
Mr Paulus Widya I Gusti Ngurah
Coastal Resilience Specialist
Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara

Building small islands’ resilience through incorporation of indigenous knowledge and science-based approaches

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Biography

Coastal Resilience Specialist, overseeing YKAN’s climate adaptation portfolio in Indonesia’s small islands. Paul supports coastal communities in enhancing their resilience and adaptive capacity to address the impacts of climate change. In his work, Paul is passionate about advancing innovative and sustainable solutions by incorporating local knowledge and science-based approaches.
Prof Francois Engelbrecht
Director
University of the Witwatersrand / Global Change Institute

Can a tropical cyclone reach Durban? The need for climate-smart disaster risk reduction

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Biography

Francois Engelbrecht is Distinguished Professor of Climatology and Director of the Global Change Institute of the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. He specializes in climate modelling and the assessment of climate change risks in Africa.
Ms Tasfia Tasnim
PhD Student
State University of New York / College of Environmental Science and Forestry

The coloniality of climate change adaptation: Investigating the conflicts and decolonial possibilities within the UNFCCC/COP Spaces

11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Biography

Tasfia Tasnim is a researcher and activist in the fields of environment, climate change, and development. Over the past seven years, Tasfia has collaborated with various national and international think tanks to build the resiliency of the climate vulnerable communities by generating knowledge, sensitizing different groups of actors and policy dialogues. Currently, she is a doctoral researcher at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Her project investigates the politics of climate change adaptation with a focus on Bangladesh and the Global South. Tasfia holds a master’s degree in Climate Change and Development from the Independent University, Bangladesh and a bachelor’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
Dr Terikano Nakekea
Climate change planning officer
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Ms 'Ofa Kaisamy is Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre. She studied a Master of Laws in Environment Law at the Australian National University. In her role, she drives innovation and ensures practical information is shared successfully between regional meteorological services, climate practitioners, policy makers and project implementers. Dr Belle Workman is a qualitative researcher in climate change, human health, policy development, air quality and just energy transitions. She is a Senior Research Fellow at Melbourne Climate Futures, where she is co-Deputy Director of the Climate CATCH Lab and the co-Lead of the Policy and Politics Stream.
Ms Ulusapeti Tiitii
Project Manager
Conservation International, Samoa

Talanoa session: Advancing the blue economy: Sustainable seaweed food systems through Indigenous and traditional climate knowledge

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Su’a Ulusapeti Tiitii was recently appointed as the KIWA Project Manager with Conservational International, Samoa, where she leads seaweed aquaculture initiatives to enhance biodiversity, food security and economic resilience. She previously served as Principal Fisheries Officer at Samoa’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for 20 years.
Prof Jimaima Lako
Pro-vice Chancellor Learning & Teaching
College of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry; Fiji National University

Talanoa session: Advancing the blue economy: Sustainable seaweed food systems through Indigenous and traditional climate knowledge

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Dr. Jimaima Lako is Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Learning and Teaching and an Associate Professor at Fiji National University. Jimaima holds a PhD in phytochemicals and health from Monash University, Australia. With expertise in food science and nutrition, she is interested in the nutritional and cultural significance of native seaweeds in Fiji.
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