Three women academics from The University of the South Pacific (USP) have become the first recipients of the Vice-Chancellor and President’s (VCP) Strategic Fund for Female Academics, a program designed to enhance gender equity within the university.
This Strategic Fund is intended to assist female academics who are nearing promotions by allowing them to take time away from teaching to concentrate on their research and publications.
The award recipients include Dr. Buriata Tofinga, a lecturer from the School of Business and Management; Dr. Amanda Ford, a senior lecturer from 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.
Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, noted that the initiative was established earlier this year in honor of International Women’s Day, themed “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” He emphasized the program’s uniqueness at USP and its alignment with the university’s commitment to increasing the representation of women in academia.
“This initiative is a transformative aspect of our strategy to promote gender equity,” said Professor Ahluwalia. “Congratulations to the recipients, and I commend the effort of our female academics and researchers at USP as we continue to invest in women’s advancement.”
Dr. Buriata Tofinga’s research examines the effects of climate change on women’s livelihoods. She aims to explore the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in shaping the social and economic practices of indigenous communities vulnerable to climate change. “This research is vital for discussions on gender empowerment and the significance of traditional knowledge in the Pacific,” she stated.
“The six-month sabbatical is crucial for female academics like myself, as we often juggle personal, family, and professional responsibilities. This opportunity will help enhance our research profiles and career trajectories.”
Dr. Amanda Ford, who studies coral reef ecology, marine management, and marine pollution, seeks to connect scientific research with practical management solutions. “My team works to help local communities secure their coastal marine ecosystems,” she said.
She leads two significant multi-year projects: one focused on establishing regional baselines for marine plastics in reef fish across four Pacific Island Countries, and another investigating the drivers of benthic cyanobacterial mats on coral reefs in Fiji.
Dr. Hilda Waqa-Sakiti is conducting a pilot project aimed at assessing the health and stability of Fiji’s blue carbon ecosystems, such as mangroves and seagrass meadows. “We aim to develop a reliable assessment tool for these ecosystems tailored for Fiji,” she explained. Additionally, she leads the Pacific Ocean and Climate Crisis Assessment Project across 16 Pacific countries, focusing on integrating Pacific Indigenous knowledge systems with Western scientific methodologies for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
“This research will provide data to assist Pacific governments in shaping policies and supporting global discussions that reflect our unique Pacific perspectives,” she added.