COMMUNITY LEADERS
As the ICDP Pacific Community continues to grow and strengthen, it has become integral to ongoing collaboration and networking, development of programme activities and support of new and existing projects. In 2020, ICDP established Community Hubs in seven Pacific locations to support in-country activities and networking. These Hubs serve as a pop-up meeting space for virtual dialogues and workshops. Each in-country Hub is organised by a long-term member of the ICDP Pacific Community known as the Hub Coordinator. The Hub Coordinator is responsible for managing logistics and local activities, providing feedback to ICDP on programme activities, and advocating on behalf of the programme while gaining leadership experience.
Shurti Kumar
Nadi/Lakota, Fiji
Shurti is a physiotherapist by profession working in both the public and private sector. About four years ago, Shurti diversified her path and transitioned to the aviation industry-firstly working as part of a wellness team and now in the field of service quality.
She started her journey with ICDP in 2020, as a participant in a dialogue, and since then she has taken on the Hub Coordinator (Nadi-Lautoka) role. She has facilitated, organized and collaborated in various Pacific Connect/ICDP run events in Fiji and has learnt a lot along the way, growing both professionally and personally. She have met some really grounded, passionate people through the PC/ICDP network and has made some good friends for life!
Contact Information
Email: shurtikumar2014@gmail.com
Salote Waqairatu
Suva, Fiji
Salote is currently an Agribusiness researcher through the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and Southern Cross University. With her aquaculture background she has spent over 15 years in teaching and research, both in local and overseas Universities. Through the Pacific Agricultural Research and Development Initiative, she assisted with the formalisation of the Tilapia Fiji farmers association. She is also developing the Garden Weavers outreach program as part of the community arm within their business, Landscaping Solutions Fiji. This program focuses on: 1) Landscapes, Health and Well-being; 2) Women and Youth Entrepreneurship; 3) Environmental Stewardship and 4) Agribusiness and Support to local farmers. Salote first attended a Pacific Connect dialogue in June 2019 and has participated in a number of ICDP activities including: 2019 & 2020 Ideas Exchange, Storytelling & Digital Media Dialogue, AgTech Dialogue, Women in Aquaculture and numerous Fiji PCC networking events.
Contact Information
Email: salote.waqairatu7@gmail.com
Georgina Benson
Port Morseby, PNG
After 17 years with ANZ Banking Group PNG, Georgina decided to leave the bank and concentrate on her own coffee venture. She had 17 years’ experience in the banking and finance industry of which, 12 years were in Lending and, 5 years in various retail and retail operations roles. She developed knowledge and understanding of various business industry and markets from Small Businesses to Emerging and Large Corporates. She is the Convenor for Economic Empowerment for Soroptimist International of Lae Club. She has planned and organised financial literacy programmes for communities in the Lae District. So far, over 250 participants have attended and have been facilitated by ANZ. She has also planned and organised a flea market in Lae, held annually, on public holidays. From the flea market, she gathered women who sew clothing, to display their designs in a mini fashion show, done in collaboration with Gender Based Violence Month, in order to raise awareness for GBV. Her coffee product, a coffee in a bag concept, was invited to be displayed and participate in various APEC 2018 competitions and demonstrations.
Ral Kumbou
Lae, PNG
Ralmaylyn Kumbou is the Admin Officer for Tok Stret Consulting Limited as well as a member of the Lae SME Incubator Hub, with a focus on helping develop local businesses in Lae. The business is focused on developing businesses in Lae, and PNG, through business and personal skill development and using social media as a marketing and communication tool, providing website solutions through the business.
Julliane Terry
Lae, Papua New Guinea
Julliane is Managing Director of Tok Stret Consulting, which she founded in 2017 with her partner. The businesses is focused on developing organisations in Lae and wider PNG through business and personal skills development and using social media as a marketing and communications tool. Tok Stret also provides mentoring and leadership courses for emerging businesses. Julliane’s clients range from MSMEs to major PNG corporates and multi-nationals, NGOs and Landowner Groups. Julliane has been a PCC alumnus since first attending a Pacific Connect dialogue in Brisbane in 2019 and has been a strong advocate for the Pacific Connect program in Lae after being inspired to start up the Lae Innovation Hub whilst attending the ICDP Annual Ideas Exchange in September 2019. (Interview with Julliane)
Okalani Mariner
Apia, Samoa
Okalani Mariner is the Vice President & co-founder of the first Environmental Student Body at the National University of Samoa – Lanulau’ava Student Association. It is a youth-led organisation that aims to raise awareness about the effect and impact of Climate Change on SIDS as well as provide a platform that empowers youth to raise their voice and tell their story.
It was founded in September 2020, since then her association has worked with local and regional NGOs to promote Climate Action, Adaptation and Resilience in the Pacific.
In 2021 her association carried out a two-part project called ‘The future of the Green Pacific’ which first brought together 12 different schools and a total of 60 participants from around Samoa (6 schools from Savaii & 6 schools from Upolu) in a Climate Change focused workshop and secondly we hosted an energy audit of our National University.
The purpose of the workshop was to educate students on the impacts climate change has on their communities and their personal lives. The discussions were facilitated by members of Lanulauava who were all students at the National University of Samoa. After this workshop, we carried out an energy audit of the National University of Samoa. They used the information they gathered from the energy audit to calculate the number of carbon emissions the National University of Samoa(NUS) produced annually. From the information gathered we they created a detailed report which contained all their findings as well as environmentally sustainable ways to decrease the universities carbon emissions.
Contact Information
Email: okalani@onelookstudio.com
Brian Mangi
Solomon Islands
A long-term member of our Community, Brian is seasoned EduTech Consultant, Entrepreneur, and Web Developer with extensive expertise in IT Consulting and Network Engineering. Brian has been the Managing Director of ‘IT Sup’, an IT consultancy firm located in Honiara since 2015. Previously ICT Network Administrator at the Solomon Islands National University, Brian is an information technology enthusiast with extensive start-up development and advertising experience. Brian attended ICDP’s first dialogue in Fiji in 2018 and has since attended numerous ICDP activities as alumnus and Hub Coordinator. Brian has also provided valuable in-country support for the Pacific Technology Academy Coding & E-Commerce training in the Solomon Islands.
Contact Information
Email: brian@itsup.com.sb
Seluvaia Kauvaka
Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Selu is currentling serving as a Project Coordinator for the Ministry of Education’s Project Management Unit (PMU-SCA) where she oversees the development and implementation of e-learning modules. With a background in ICT Engingeering, Selu has had the privilege of working in both the public and private sectors, particularly focusing on E-Government initiatives and the ICT & Telecommunications sector. She has studied in Japan which she credits has taught her much in life and work.
Beyond her professional endeavours, she is deeply passionate about promoting gender equality and empowerment in the field of ICT. Selu is the president of Tonga Women in ICT, an NGO founded to foster a supportive environment for women and girls in STEM, providing mentorship, training and growth opportunities.
She services as the ICDP Hub Coordinator for Tonga and supports us with our activities conducted in Tonga. ICDP was one of TWICT’s very first supporters, assisting with initiatives and ideas to develop TWICT to where it is today. In her role she works to expand her network and engage with individuals from diverse backgrounds, exchanging knowledge and experiences.
Her most cherished role is that of a mother.
When she’s not immersed in the world of technology and entrepreneurship, she enjoys spending time with her son who continually inspires here with his curiosity.
Torika Kalman
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Torika Kalman is a Ni-Vanuatu with a strong commitment to social development and
community empowerment. With a background in Social Sciences from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, she has accumulated extensive experience working with various organisations, including the Red Cross, World Vision Vanuatu, and the Vanuatu National Emergency Medical Team.
Since 2020, Torika has been the Program Coordinator at V-Lab, Vanuatu’s first business and idea incubator, where she has been instrumental in the design and execution of incubation programs that provide start-ups with the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape.
Contact Information
Email: torika@v-lab.org
Dr Anna Blackman
Brisbane, Australia
Over the last two decades, Anna has extensively studied, taught and published about business coaching, human resources and business management, as well as rural and regional leadership. Online teaching and learning, as part and parcel of modern university life, is also one of Anna’s specialties. In 2019, Anna co-founded Talent Insight Solutions, alongside Kylie Ellwood, to pursue the practical, applied side of her expertise, and continues to direct this company. Anna co-delivers mentoring workshops for the Pacific Connect program and has a passion for working with others to incorporate change whether it be with SME business owners, large organisations, educational institutions, students at both the undergraduate or postgraduate level. She has designed industry specific coaching workshops for the Tourism and Education sectors, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas and the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences.
Contact Information
Kylie Ellwood
Brisbane, Australia
Kylie has 20 years’ experience in corporate and small business management, account management, strategic visioning, small business systems, tools and processes, coaching, training and development. Kylie is passionate about helping people to develop their skills to increase their personal and professional wealth. In 2019, Kylie co-founded Talent Insight Solutions, alongside Dr Anna Blackman and works with people to: increase performance, productivity and profit, improved customer service, sales and leadership skills, increase staff retention, motivation and office culture, and has many other areas of expertise. In addition to her Extended DISCMaster Trainer qualification, Kylie is an NLP Master Practitioner, an Institute ofSocial and Emotional Intelligence (ISEI) Certified Coach, and a FinxS Master Trainer.
Contact Information
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