Tell us about yourself and what you do?

I was born, raised and educated in Suva, Fiji.  I am a Fijian feminist activist. I have been working with civil society organisations in Fiji, Pacific collectives, and across the global south with feminist networks to mobilise analysis and action for gender equality and social justice. I love paddling, painting, and journaling, with really good coffee in town.  

I have had the pleasure of working with and being inspired by Pacific advocates from civil society and academica. I hold a keen interest in critical Pacific-centred development.  Recently, I have directed my focus to tracking and critically analysing from a global south feminist lens, the rhetoric, discourses, ideas, corporate links and interests and international law and policy making efforts of the diverse advocates of the evolving Blue Economy development framework. And wondering what are the implications of the Blue Economy framing for the Pacific, the SDGs implementation and gender equality.

I attended the University of the South Pacific, and received a Bachelors of Applied Psychology and Public Administration.  Then while working in Fiji, I had the privilege of receiving a scholarship from the Australian Awards program that took me to ANU where I graduated with a Masters in Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development (advanced) with Honors, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Management and Resource Development. 

Tell us about your business/consultancy

During COVID time I stepped out of full time employment and took up short term consulting contracts with NGOs working in the same spaces. Supporting strategic planning, facilitating workshops and writing research papers and advocacy briefs with their teams. This is only my second year in this type of work, however I am learning a lot and working with amazing Pacific islanders, and networks. 

What’s your favourite quote from a TV show/movie/book?

I love poetry so I will share some lines from one of my favourite writers, Kahlil Gibran, on Reason and Passion:  

Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul.

If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.

For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining, and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.

Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing;

And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection

and let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection

and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

A good Fiji-style Tea and Talanoa with family and friends.  

What drew you to sign up at Greenhouse Coworking?

It’s a great work space option for Suva, with good vibes and convenient facilities. GC is a nice addition to Suva’s hustle and bustle.