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Ocean, Islands, Futures - Insights From SPREP & IDRC

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

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

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

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.
Prof. Kofi Apreku
Solomon Islands National University, Solomon Islands

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

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Dr. Kofi Apreku holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Adelaide and has expertise in natural resource economics, applied statistics, and banking and finance. His research focuses on fisheries management, efficiency, and sustainability, specifically on bioeconomic modelling, fisher behaviour, aquaculture, and climate challenges across the Pacific.
Ms Cherie Morris
University of the South Pacific, Fiji

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

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Cherie Whippy Morris earned her MSc in Marine Studies at the University of the South Pacific and has 30 years of project management experience in Pacific fisheries. Specializing in post-harvest fisheries and value chain analysis, she develops and delivers fisheries-related certificate programs for Pacific Islanders.
Ms Tooreka Teemari
Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development, Kiribati

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

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

As the Director of Coastal Fisheries, Tooreka Teemari oversees fisheries, mariculture, and aquaculture. With expertise in climate resilience and community-based fisheries management, she champions sustainable livelihoods, women’s engagement, and food security. Teemari holds a Master of Marine Science and Resource Management from National Taiwan Ocean University.
Ms Ulusapeti Tiitii
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
College of Engineering, Science and Technology, Fiji National University, Fiji

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.
Dr Terikano Nakekea
Senior Research Fellow, Melbourne Climate Futures
Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development

Building capacity to advance resilience through local action

10:45 AM - 11:15 AM

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.
Dr Mélanie Robertson
Senior Program Specialist
International Development Research Centre

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

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Biography

Dr. Mélanie Robertson has been a Senior Program Specialist at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Ottawa, Canada, since 2009. She currently works in the Climate Resilient Food Systems (CRFS) Division, where she leads the Nature-Based Climate Solutions in Aquaculture Food Systems in Asia-Pacific (AQUADAPT), and the Food Loss Research initiatives. She also supports the Climate-Resilient Animal Fund (RECAF) initiative in Africa.
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