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EWC Insights: Asia-Pacific Transitions
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. HST
Collaboration and Outreach of the 6PAC at the IMO
featuring
Atina Schutz, Legal and Policy Researcher, Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport
John Kautoke, Political and Legal Advisor, High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga
Dr. Morgan Wairiu, Chief of Party, USAID funded SCALE-NRM Project
Dr. Transform Aqorau, Vice-Chancellor, Solomon Islands National University
A Bwebwenato/talanoa discussion about who the 6PAC are and their current work at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This talk will highlighting the impacts of climate change towards Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and how a national university and academic institution can support in addressing those issues at international platforms such as the IMO; creating a united Pacific voice advocating and debating for issues in maritime shipping surrounding Equitable Transition (ET), Levels of Ambition (LoA), Governing Principles and Revenue Disbursement; and a discussion of shared experiences by the next generation of young research diplomats in this field and what this means for the region and its future.
Atina Schutz: Connecting from Majuro in the Marshall Islands, Atina is a legal and policy researcher with the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport and through this capacity assists the 6PAC.
John Kautoke: Connecting from London, UK. John is a Political and Legal Advisor at the High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga, in London. Recently, he has assisted the Delegation of Tonga at ISWG-GHG 13 and MEPC 79, and will do so again at the upcoming ISWG-GHG 14,15, and MEPC80.
Dr. Morgan Wairiu: Connecting from Honiara, The Solomon Islands, Dr. Morgan Wairiu is a Natural Resource and Climate Adaptation Specialist. Dr. Wairiu is currently the Chief of Party of the USAID funded SCALE-NRM Project in Solomon Islands Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Council. Previously he held the Deputy Director position of the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development at The University of the South Pacific (USP). During his time at USP he was Coordinating Lead Author of the Small Islands Chapter of the IPCC Working Group 2 Sixth Assessment Report. He has over 30 years of work experience in agriculture, forestry, land use and the environment including climate change adaptation and risk resilience in the Pacific regions. His research interest is in food security and climate change.
Dr. Transform Aqorau: Connecting from Solomon Islands, Professor Transform Aqorau is Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU). He is concurrently Legal Adviser to the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), and CEO of iTUNA Intel and fisheries research and development consultancy. He was Legal Adviser and Acting Deputy Secretary to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as Assistant Legal Counsel, Legal Counsel and Deputy Director of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in Honiara, Solomon Islands. He worked as International Legal Adviser to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva, Fiji. He was pioneer CEO to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Office in Majuro, Marshall Islands, and Administrator of the PNA Purse Seine and Longline Vessel Day Scheme (VDS). He has been involved in fisheries, development and oceans management issues in the region since 1988. Professor Aqorau has published widely on fisheries, politics, development, natural resources and governance issues in the Pacific Islands region. He was a member of the World Bank Blue Ribbon Panel, and Board Member of Soltai Fishing Company. He is a Board member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). He is author of Fishing for Success: Lessons for Pacific Regionalism, published by the ANU Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA) in 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Papua New Guinea, Master of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada and PhD in Law from the University of Wollongong, Australia.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect East-West Center policies or positions.
EWC Insights: Asia-Pacific Transitions
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. HST
Collaboration and Outreach of the 6PAC at the IMO
featuring
Atina Schutz, Legal and Policy Researcher, Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport
John Kautoke, Political and Legal Advisor, High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga
Dr. Morgan Wairiu, Chief of Party, USAID funded SCALE-NRM Project
Dr. Transform Aqorau, Vice-Chancellor, Solomon Islands National University
A Bwebwenato/talanoa discussion about who the 6PAC are and their current work at the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This talk will highlighting the impacts of climate change towards Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and how a national university and academic institution can support in addressing those issues at international platforms such as the IMO; creating a united Pacific voice advocating and debating for issues in maritime shipping surrounding Equitable Transition (ET), Levels of Ambition (LoA), Governing Principles and Revenue Disbursement; and a discussion of shared experiences by the next generation of young research diplomats in this field and what this means for the region and its future.
Atina Schutz: Connecting from Majuro in the Marshall Islands, Atina is a legal and policy researcher with the Micronesian Center for Sustainable Transport and through this capacity assists the 6PAC.
John Kautoke: Connecting from London, UK. John is a Political and Legal Advisor at the High Commission of the Kingdom of Tonga, in London. Recently, he has assisted the Delegation of Tonga at ISWG-GHG 13 and MEPC 79, and will do so again at the upcoming ISWG-GHG 14,15, and MEPC80.
Dr. Morgan Wairiu: Connecting from Honiara, The Solomon Islands, Dr. Morgan Wairiu is a Natural Resource and Climate Adaptation Specialist. Dr. Wairiu is currently the Chief of Party of the USAID funded SCALE-NRM Project in Solomon Islands Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) Council. Previously he held the Deputy Director position of the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development at The University of the South Pacific (USP). During his time at USP he was Coordinating Lead Author of the Small Islands Chapter of the IPCC Working Group 2 Sixth Assessment Report. He has over 30 years of work experience in agriculture, forestry, land use and the environment including climate change adaptation and risk resilience in the Pacific regions. His research interest is in food security and climate change.
Dr. Transform Aqorau: Connecting from Solomon Islands, Professor Transform Aqorau is Vice Chancellor of the Solomon Islands National University (SINU). He is concurrently Legal Adviser to the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA), and CEO of iTUNA Intel and fisheries research and development consultancy. He was Legal Adviser and Acting Deputy Secretary to the Solomon Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as Assistant Legal Counsel, Legal Counsel and Deputy Director of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in Honiara, Solomon Islands. He worked as International Legal Adviser to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva, Fiji. He was pioneer CEO to the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Office in Majuro, Marshall Islands, and Administrator of the PNA Purse Seine and Longline Vessel Day Scheme (VDS). He has been involved in fisheries, development and oceans management issues in the region since 1988. Professor Aqorau has published widely on fisheries, politics, development, natural resources and governance issues in the Pacific Islands region. He was a member of the World Bank Blue Ribbon Panel, and Board Member of Soltai Fishing Company. He is a Board member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). He is author of Fishing for Success: Lessons for Pacific Regionalism, published by the ANU Department of Pacific Affairs (DPA) in 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Papua New Guinea, Master of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada and PhD in Law from the University of Wollongong, Australia.
The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect East-West Center policies or positions.
