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| Dr Netatua Pelesikoti |
This is the second in a series of
human interest stories by SPREP’s Nanette Woonton on Pacific women showing
leadership in the climate change field.
30 November 2012, Doha, Qatar - For the first time ever, a Pacific
woman is one of the lead authors in the next report of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change.
Dr Netatua Pelesikoti from Tonga is the Director of the Climate change division
at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). She is also a lead contributor to Chapter 29
on Small Islands in the 5th Assessment Report.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change is the leading international body for the assessment of climate
change. It was established by the United
Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization in
1998, and won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its work on climate change.
The 5th Assessment Report
is to provide the world with a clear scientific view on the current state of
knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic
impacts. The report is the leading climate
change reference report by the international community. Having undergone rigorous scientific review,
information from this document is quoted often at the UN climate negotiations,
referred to in research reports and news articles.
Being one of the lead authors for the small
island chapter is not an easy feat.
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| Dr Pelesikoti during the AOSIS preparatory meeting, COP 18 |
“Time management has been a challenge
for me in contributing my work towards the report as well as managing a
division of over 20 staff,” said Dr. Pelesikoti.
“8am to 5pm is a short day! I have really had to draw upon dedication,
dedication, dedication and commitment in order to achieve as much as I can!”
She has come a long way.
Dr Pelesikoti, or Neta as she is often
called, is well known throughout the Pacific region having had over 20 years
worth of experience in climate change, coastal management and disaster risk
management.
She began as an environmental
technical officer in Tonga and then progressed to working on policy and
management at the national level including monitoring and evaluation, training,
and project management.
She was also an advisor at the
Secretariat of the Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC). Often described as the ‘Queen of Disaster
Risk Management’ in the Pacific region, Neta is well received and welcomed by
many Pacific island communities who have spent time with her in their work
field.
Dr Pelesikoti is a coastal ecologist by profession. She
did her first degree at the University of the South Pacific in geography and
economics; she completed her Masters in Coastal Management in the Netherlands
and finished her Phd in Australia in coastal monitoring focusing on the coastal
water quality, coral reef and seagrass.
Now Dr Pelesikoti is staking her
claim in the international region having attended the UN Climate Change
Negotiations since 2010 and with her role as a Leading Author in Chapter 29 of
the 5th IPCC Assessment Report.
“I enjoy making a difference where I
can this is a highlight for me in my work.”
“Whether this difference is in
developing a government policy, providing advice or working with the community
in an activity to build their resilience or simply through watering a plant - I
enjoy making a difference and this is what really drives me in my work.”
Neta’s career has seen sacrifices made
along the way, a mother of two teenagers, her family is spread across the
Pacific region in Tonga, Fiji and Australia, with her based in Samoa. However the demands of her job require a lot
of attention.
As the Director of the Climate Change
Division she must coordinate and oversee her team that also manages
multi-million dollar projects across the Pacific region. Along with this her role also includes
providing input and guidance as a member of the Senior Management Team to help
with the running of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment
Programme.
A typical day for her in the office includes
a staff meeting, project development planning and reporting, communications
work, negotiations and meetings with partners and donors as well as management
meetings. She is constantly, constantly
working.
“It’s challenging and I thrive in
challenges and I know what I'm doing and am good at it!”
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| Dr Pelesikoti with the Tuvalu delegation during a break at the COP 18 |
Dr Netatua has a keen scientific
mind. Having worked with her for the
last several years, we often talk about emotive news versus scientific news,
which leads to now being the right time to share Neta’s personal attributes.
In the office she is a strong Pacific
island woman. Her opinions are bold and
she is thick skinned, I admire that you can debate and discuss issues with her
and then quickly move on to the next issue, she moves on and gets over things
quickly.
At the same time, Neta is also a
generous Pacific island woman that often shows Pacific hospitality. It is this Pacific cultural grounding which
has helped her be at home whether she is attending bilateral meetings in the
corridors of the UN climate negotiations, or if she is providing community
advice in a fale near the coast in the Pacific islands.
Neta is a hard worker, with this work
ethic and dedication she has persevered in her field. I admire her strong work ethics that have
propelled her into the world stage, seeing her name stamped on an
internationally reputed document on climate change. It is no easy feat to provide accepted
scientific input as well as be the Manager of a large division.
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| Dr Pelesikoti with fellow delegates from Tonga |
Congratulations Neta.
In closing her interview, she imparts
this tip for other Pacific women entering into their professional career, a
short tidbit that can help many other Pacific island women be successful at
whatever they do.
“Use your talents and share your
experiences and skills to make a positive impact in your career, family,
country, region and the world.”
I like it, good sound advice. Onwards and Upwards!
Pacific
Women in Climate Change
