The Oceania Collective for Research and Advocacy is a network of Pacific researchers committed to social and environmental justice. The convener of the collective is Professor Vijay Naidu who has more than 40 years of research and advocacy experience in the region. He has worked as an academic at the University of the South Pacific (USP) and Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He has actively engaged with Civil Society Organisations and NGOs. Please see his CV at the link below.
Prof. Vijay Naidu Brief Biography
Professor Nii-K Plange has also researched and published on significant Pacific island countries’ (PICs’) issues for more than 30 years. His specialism is in social policy, and has extensive experience in working in the area of sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDs and social security.
Mr Parmod Achary has worked for Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) for over 30 years rising to an executive position with the Fund. He has also served as Deputy CEO of Fiji Island Revenue and Customs Authority (FIRCA). He specialises in income security for the elderly, and on pension funds.
Professor Ratuva has a trans-disciplinary research interest across such areas as sociology, anthropology, politics, philosophy, economics and development studies. He has carried out intensive research and published widely in ethnic politics, coups, ethno-nationalism, constitutional reform, economic vulnerability and social protection, conflict and peacebuilding, affirmative action and preferential development and power. He has carried out advisory and consultancy work for a number international agencies including UNDP (civic education, constitutional reform and security), International Labour Organization (social protection), Asian Development Bank (poverty, development, conflict and social protection), Commonwealth Secretariat (social protection and parliamentary democracy), International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (electoral processes), Pacific Island Forum (leadership and security), International Minority Group (minority project assessment), UN Department of Political Affairs (decolonization) and International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (indigenous rights).
Joeli Veitayaki is the Associate Professor and Head of the School of Marine Studies, Director for the International Ocean Institute Pacific Islands based at USP and is leader of the University Research Cluster on Pacific Ocean and Fisheries Management. Joeli is a trained teacher who did his Bachelors and Masters studies at USP. He obtained his PhD in Environment and Development from Australian National University. Apart from teaching, Joeli works closely with researchers and communities to promote the management of marine resources. He has written articles on the importance of subsistence and artisanal fisheries, indigenous knowledge, capacity building issues, environment, sustainable development and regional cooperation in the South Pacific.
Associate Professor. Joeli Veitayaki Biography
Dr. Yoko Kanemasu is the Deputy Head of the School of Social Sciences and Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of the South Pacific. Her research and publications cover a range of social scientific areas including sport, labour migration, tourism, identity and rural development. She has extensive primary research experience in Fiji and the UK and undertaken consultancy research for regional and international organisations. She specalises in semi-structured interviews, desk-based studies and stakeholder consultations.
Dr. Chan Tung’s primary research interest is in gender and development with specific focus on women’s work and mobility. Current research is in the area of women and leadership in Pacific islands public sectors, and women in parliament. Her previous work focused on brain drain in the Pacific and, women and commercial flower production. She has taught gender and social science courses at the University of the South Pacific, the National University of Samoa and the University of Hawai’i for 15 years and was a visiting lecturer at the University of Auckland in 2002. She has been the gender focus person in USP.
Dr. Asenati Liki Chan Tung Biography
Dr. Gordon Nanau has research interest and have carried out research around Pacific islands politics and development with particular focus on governance of service delivery, constitutional reforms, elections, land tenure, sub regional cooperation, leadership, personhood, informality, rural development, ethnicity, vulnerability, resilience, political (in) stability, research methodology, and the impacts of globalization in local communities. Most of his journal and book chapter publications are in these research areas. Gordon has been awarded research grants and has also led research and consultancy projects in the Pacific islands.