Three female academics at The University of the South Pacific (USP) have become the first recipients of the Vice-Chancellor and President’s Strategic Fund for Female Academics, aimed at fostering gender equity within the institution. The fund is designed to assist female academics who are approaching promotion by allowing them to take time off from teaching to focus on their research and publications.
The inaugural recipients include Dr. Buriata Tofinga, a lecturer in the School of Business and Management; Dr. Amanda Ford, a senior lecturer in the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Oceans and Natural Sciences; and Dr. Hilda Waqa-Sakiti, the lead researcher and team leader at the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development.
Professor Pal Ahluwalia, Vice-Chancellor and President of USP, stated that the initiative was launched this year in honor of International Women’s Day, with the theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” He highlighted that this is the first initiative of its type at USP and is in line with the university’s commitment to increasing women’s representation in academia.
Professor Ahluwalia congratulated the recipients and acknowledged the dedication of all female academics and researchers at USP, emphasizing the continuing investment in women’s progress.
Dr. Buriata Tofinga focuses her research on the effects of climate change on women’s livelihoods. She intends to explore the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in shaping women’s social and economic practices in indigenous communities vulnerable to climate change. She expressed her enthusiasm for this research and the recognition of women’s roles within the Pacific context.
Dr. Amanda Ford specializes in coral reef ecology and marine management. Her research aims to connect scientific findings with practical management efforts, helping local communities conserve coastal marine ecosystems. She currently leads multi-year projects, one of which assesses marine plastic pollution in four Pacific Island countries and another investigating the effects of cyanobacterial mats on Fiji’s coral reefs.
Dr. Hilda Waqa-Sakiti leads a pilot project focused on measuring the health and stability of Fiji’s blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrass meadows. Additionally, she oversees the Pacific Ocean and Climate Crisis Assessment Project, which includes 16 Pacific nations and examines how Pacific Indigenous knowledge can integrate with Western scientific methods in addressing climate change challenges. The data gathered from her research aims to support Pacific governments in policy formulation and contribute to global discussions reflecting the unique perspectives of the region.