Highest Degree
Masters GeoSpatial Science
Job Type
Data Management
Natural Resource Management
Decision Making & Policy
Technical Advice & Consulting
Activities
Director – National Disaster Management Office
Ensures the provision of policy advice, promulgation of and/or
implementation of policy advice, promulgation of and/or implementation of
policy, decisions of the National Disaster Management Council. Provides
professional and timely advice to the National Disaster Controller, Divisional
Commissioners and other stakeholders on all matters pertaining to disaster and
risk management and the provision of administrative and operational support
services to the NDMC in the effective discharge of duties and functions of
NDMO. Formulation and implementation of annual work program and ensuring that
the NEOC and other EOCs are at all times in a full state of readiness. Provides
advice and support to the various NDMC Committees and ensures that programmes
and activities are undertaken effectively and efficiently in conjunction with
the Natural Disaster Management Act. Lead, supervise
and oversee implementation of national disaster risk management strategies and
processes at the National Disaster Management Office.
Current: Co- Founder – Mobile Me Project – Pacific Connect,
International Partners of Democratic Partnership
Mobile Me Project is a community project in partnership with the
Fiji Disabled Peoples Federation that is looking to organize a Street Level Map-a-thon to locate
facilities on the road, pavements and footpath within our pilot site that is
accessible for Persons with Disability. The project is divided into three
phases: Public facility (external), Internal (building) and e-commerce. A
critical component of the project is the identification of evacuation route for
people living with disability when there’s a disaster.
Current: Chair - Free and Open
Source Software for Geospatial Pasifika (FOSS4G Oceania Stomp)
The first female to chair FOSS4G Pasifika Conference for the year
2020. Free and open source software is critical for development countries like
Fiji as we explore options that are available at no cost in the market without
investing too much money in software developments.
Skills
I completed my Master
in GeoSpatial Science from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in
Melbourne, Australia. My research work was refining the marine time boundary
survey done by Geoscience Australia for Fiji. I am the only Fijian researcher
that has redefined these boundaries and transformed it to the latest reference frame.
This research included generating a series of mathematical code that could
estimate the movement of plate boundaries. Using these skills and GNSS, we can
identify vulnerable areas prone disaster within Fiji, therefore, forward
planning can be implemented prior disaster. This scientific research is
critical for policy and planning as measures could be put in places to minimised
hazards.
With my ten years’ plus industry
experience, I have worked in Palau, Tuvalu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Federate
States of Micronesia, Australia, and Fiji. This exposure has enabled me to
think dynamically about real life issues faced and finding best alternative
solutions. Disaster mapping holds a special place in heart as I have witness
first-hand the impact of disaster to people’s lives and properties.
In one of my previous roles, I was
Manager GIS for the Sugar Industry Tribunal. When I was recruited; there was no
budget; no staff; and no equipment. I started from scratch and wrote proposals,
worked long hours and by the time I left for further studies, the Department
had a budget of $FJD948,000, with three confirmed staff and 20 casual employees.
A major part of this budget was the upgrade to the IT infrastructure for the
Sugarcane Industry GIS System.
The first project approved by
government was surveying 1300 farmers in Vanua Levu and not only were we able
to map farmers, but we also linked their information to the sugarcane mill
database (the first in Fiji). This meant that each farmers’ produce was
demarcated according to the volume of sugarcane yield produced annually. The
impact of salt water intrusion was evident as we train farmers to be resilience
and plant tolerant sugarcane varieties.
The second project involved selecting
farmers whose produce was below average, and field visits were organised to
find reasons it was happening. With the support from my professional network,
I was able to compile spatial datasets of electrical post and wiring,
boreholes, and water meters. With the collected information, I was able to
provide substantiation claims as to which farmers needed the most assistance. This
type of analysis prior consultation is exactly what donor needs to prove the
need to fund critical projects. Critical thinking has always been a big part of
me, and as a leader in the country’s Disaster Department, it is important to
inherit this trait as it could potentially save a lot of lives.
Given the Tribunal’s important role in
the Geospatial Industry, I was tasked to ensure it remained relevant. Put
simply, my research skills were fully utilised and included presentations to
the Fijian Ministries of Agriculture, Economy and Climate Change. Not only was
I good in project management, my technical skills was also appreciated by other
organisation whom endorsed me to development a monitoring tool for them.
In addition, whilst working with the
Tribunal, I assisted other stakeholders with project designs. For instance,
with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, I designed the GIS/IT component
by incorporating spatial analysis to improve rural roads for farmers. This project was funded under European Union.
In 2016, I was the Mapping Specialist
for the Asian Institute of Technology. The project’s objective was to improve
local capacity to collect and share reliable and timely disaster-related data
using SBT and ICT at a local government and community level in a more
cost-effective manner to strengthen their disaster resilience and support
timely post-disaster response, recovery and reconstruction efforts. The system included building structures,
building heights, building materials and evacuation centres merge into a mobile
application that can assist rescue workers and relief workers during and after
a disaster. This application is curently used by NDMO for tsunami drills.
Another
role I took on, was to assist the office of the Commissioner Western in
designing a make shift solution for citizen wellbeing, during and after
disaster after I was approached by United National Development Programme (UNDP).
Surveys were conducted and best practice technology was put in place to address
the need of the local communities. Since this project was implemented after TC
Winston, a lot of lesson learn was address in to the project. Other than colour
coding the houses that were assisted with cyclone rations, a cyclone tracking
mechanisms was integrated to enable the operation centres to monitor the
movement of the cyclone and the estimated arrival time. Officials were able to
demarcate houses/communities that were seated on the cyclone path and
evacuation procedures were undertaken prior its arrival.
Comment(s)
I have the passion to help those in need and currently working on a charity project call "Veinanumi" where we collect unused packs of sanitary pads and donate them to those in need.
I also co found the Mobile Me Project - a mobile application that helps those living with disability find their way around the city without falling on a pavement etc. Additionally supports their work with the opening of their emergency operation center during tropical cyclone Sarai and Tino.
