Dr Winifereti Nainoca

Dr Winifereti Nainoca is an accomplished environmental scientist, policy specialist, and development practitioner with extensive experience in environmental conservation, climate change, marine resource management, Indigenous knowledge systems, and higher education leadership.

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Environmental Conservation from Massey University (2011), a Master of Environmental Science (Honours) from the University of Wollongong (1999), a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biology, and a Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of the South Pacific (1983).

Dr Nainoca has more than a decade of senior leadership experience with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) across Fiji and the Pacific, serving from 2012 to March 2023 within the Resilience and Sustainable Development (RSD) team. During this period, she held the roles of Environmental Specialist, Deputy Team Leader, and Environment Team Leader.

In academia, she served as Head of School for Applied Science and General Studies at the Fiji Institute of Technology, later the Fiji National University, from 2003 to 2009. In this role, she provided academic leadership, oversaw staff management and curriculum development, and strengthened science education programmes.

She was also actively involved in research and consultancy work, including environmental impact assessments for major development projects and collaborative research with international institutions such as the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Since retiring from UNDP in 2023, Dr Nainoca has continued to contribute through a range of high-level advisory and consultancy roles, supporting sustainable development initiatives, environmental governance, climate resilience, and policy development across the Pacific region.