Author Collaboration

Short bio: Theses articles are the fruit of collaborations between our editorial team and various official entities, such as the South Pacific Community for the "70 Inspiring Women" series.

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    Mireille Chinain (SPC)
    Environment

    Portrait of the Tahitian scientist who discovered what causes Ciguatera

    French Polynesian scientist Mireille Chinain has been spearheading regional research efforts on Ciguatera poisoning, the foodborne disease related to the consumption of subtropical and tropical marine finfish which have accumulated naturally occurring toxins through their diet. Ciguatera poses not only a public health problem but has also a significant impact on the economies of affected countries, especially in Pacific Island Countries and Territories, where populations … Continue reading Portrait of the Tahitian scientist who discovered what causes Ciguatera

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    Solomon Island's class of 1983
    Social

    Solomon Islands’ legendary class of 1983

    In the early 80s, a group of eight Solomon Island women graduated with a Diploma of Secondary Education at the University of Papua New Guinea Goroka Teachers’ College. In the decades since, the women have worked at all levels and sectors of education including formal and information education, vocational training and distance education. They have contributed significantly to national curricula, educational policies, the establishment of … Continue reading Solomon Islands’ legendary class of 1983

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    Culture, Events, Lifestyle, Social

    Polynesian women take the lead with the Tahiti Women’s Forum

    Innovation and entrepreneurship driven by women is a decidedly major socioeconomic trend in French Polynesia and more broadly throughout the Pacific islands. In order to mobilize and inspire women to innovate and create their economic activities, a private initiative named Tahiti Women’s Forum has been launched in Tahiti mid 2017. Its objective: to set up a one day event that will host a conference, round … Continue reading Polynesian women take the lead with the Tahiti Women’s Forum

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    Environment

    This geneticist collected 1,500 different taro crops from across the Pacific

    Samoan Valerie Saena Tuia is a leading expert on plant genetic resources who has made significant contributions to advancing food security in the Pacific Islands region. She was the Curator and then Genetic Resources Coordinator of the Pacific Community’s Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT) in Fiji for over 15 years until early 2017. Ms Tuia has carried out pioneering scientific research, established the … Continue reading This geneticist collected 1,500 different taro crops from across the Pacific

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    Social

    Fighting for women’s rights in Tuvalu

    Milikini Failautusi is a 27-year-old youth activist from Tuvalu working in the areas of youth, climate change, gender, human rights, indigenous rights, and sexual reproductive health and rights. As the coordinator of the Tuvalu National Youth Council, she advocates for Tuvaluan youth in the country’s development agenda, and also works closely with the Pacific Youth Council on issues facing Pacific’s young people at the regional level. … Continue reading Fighting for women’s rights in Tuvalu

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    Politics

    She led the way for women in Tahitian politics

    In 1976, Béatrice Vernaudon, then a young social worker, was selected to serve as French Polynesia’s representative at a Pacific Community (SPC) meeting in Suva to determine the course curriculum for the organisation’s Education and Training Centre. “That’s when I first developed political awareness by working alongside women committed to obtaining independence for their countries and by being criticized myself for the nuclear testing in … Continue reading She led the way for women in Tahitian politics

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    Social

    A blind fighter for social justice

    She is not Daredevil, but still an exceptional role figure for all the people in the Pacific suffering for a disability. There have been many firsts in the life of 36-year-old Mataafa Faatino Utumapu, a totally blind woman from birth who is making inroads for disability rights in her native Samoa. In 2014, Mataafa led national advocacy work on the Washington Group Short Set of questions … Continue reading A blind fighter for social justice

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    Social

    Meet the founder of Voice for Change, fighting against ending violence to women and girls

    Lilly Kolts Be’Soer is a women’s rights defender and advocate for the political, economic and social empowerment of women in her native Papua New Guinea. She hails from Jiwaka Province in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. Lilly is the founder and director for Voice for Change (VFC), a provincial NGO based and working in Jiwaka Province. Voice for Change focuses on ending violence against … Continue reading Meet the founder of Voice for Change, fighting against ending violence to women and girls

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    Politics, Sports

    She made French Polynesia a strong nation in athletics

    Titaua Juventin is a long-serving and respected member of the athletics community in the Pacific. She has a broad background in teaching and coaching, having worked in teacher training with the Ministry of Education in Tahiti. Ms Juventin’s passion is athletics, especially with young people and children. She successfully adapted the International Association of Athletics (IAAF) Federation’s children’s program in Tahiti and also introduced a … Continue reading She made French Polynesia a strong nation in athletics

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    Social

    The watchdog of women’s rights in Solomon Islands

    Ethel Falu Sigimanu has been instrumental in advancing gender equality and women’s human rights in the Solomon Islands. She is one of the longest-serving permanent secretaries in the Solomon Islands government, having spent the past 10 years with the Ministry of Women, Youth, Children and Family Affairs. During this time, she has taken leadership and has been influential in the work towards the passage of … Continue reading The watchdog of women’s rights in Solomon Islands

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