Alissa Takesy comes from a diverse Micronesian background and grew up in a multilingual household, which has enabled her to work in a variety of sectors including government, civil society, education, and retail. In her last assignment with the national government of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), she oversaw the complex institutional arrangements of the agriculture, forestry, biosecurity, coastal fisheries, and tourism sectors. Alissa’s work has focused on integrated management of FSM’s natural resources and maintaining partnerships to achieve collective goals in the region.

Rosalie Masu was born in Honiara but grew up in a rural coastal village and her earliest memories are of fishing and gardening with her parents to meet their family’s subsistence needs. She holds a Master of Applied Science Degree in Marine Biology from James Cook University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of the South Pacific. She is currently the Deputy Director of the Inshore Fisheries division at the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

Presley Kokwaiye is a fisheries socio-economist with Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Fisheries Authority, which manages and regulates commercial fisheries in the country. He holds a Bachelor of Economics Degree from the University of Papua New Guinea, a Master of Applied Science Degree in Fisheries and a post-graduate Certificate in Coastal Community Management from the Australian Maritime College.

Obed Timakata is the Operations Manager for the private company Timakata & Associates in Vanuatu. Timakata & Associates established the first Marine Protected Area (MPA) on Emae Island in 2004; as a result, there are now seven Marine Protected Areas surrounding the island, all implemented by local fishing communities that recognized the benefits of the first MPA.

Martin Pine is from Kiribati and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Management and Public Administration and a Master of Commerce Degree in Management and Public Administration, both from the University of the South Pacific. He served as a Chief Executive Officer for the Kiribati Provident Fund, one of the largest financial institutions in the country, from 2012-2015. He also served as a finance associate for the United Nations Population Fund from 2017-2018, and as a facilitator for the accounting program at the University of the South Pacific.

Genna Saiske grew up on the ocean in Palau. Before she learned about what ocean health was in school, she was taught at home to be a steward of the ocean; to take only what she needed and not to disturb the ecosystem because everyone relies on the ocean for their livelihood. Her undergraduate thesis focused on aquaculture and alternative fish farming methods as solutions for food security. That research allowed Genna to learn about ocean governance in Palau and the Micronesia region, which she is currently using in her role as a Development Officer at the Palau Conservation Society.

Fiafia Rex is the founder and President of one of Niue’s longest-standing volunteer educational and research organizations, Oma Tafua (meaning “to treasure whales”). Her NGO is dedicated to the protection of marine mammals in Niue and the Pacific. She is a graduate of the University of the South Pacific, and she wears several hats including jobs in hospitality and as a reporter. When not working with Oma, Fiafia can be found volunteering with the University of Life on village projects to develop and manage marine and terrestrial conservation areas.