“`html
Director, Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research
| School / Office | Office of Research and Innovation (University-wide) |
|
avelina.roko@fnu.ac.fj linarokoduru@gmail.com |
|
| Campus | Nasinu Campus & Pasifika Campus |
| Phone | +679 3394000 | Ext 2043 |
| Qualification | PhD Candidate (University of Otago), MA Development Studies, PGDip Development Studies, BA History/Politics & Geography (USP) |
| Research Areas | Sexual & Reproductive Health, Gender-Based Violence, Pacific Migration, Social Policy, Qualitative Research, Indigenous & Pacific Research |
| Publications | Author and co-author of numerous regional and international publications on public health, gender, migration and Pacific development. |
| Professional Experience | Director, Fiji Institute of Pacific Health Research; Former Director and Coordinator of the Pacific Sexual & Reproductive Health Research Centre; Research lead for regional projects funded by UNFPA, World Bank, DFAT, SPC and UNAIDS. |
Ms Avelina Rokoduru is a Pacific social researcher and academic with extensive experience in sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence, migration, and qualitative social research across Fiji and the wider Pacific. She brings more than fifteen years of experience leading regional research centres, conducting policy-relevant studies, and developing tertiary curricula at the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Fiji National University.
She served as Coordinator (2009–2018) and subsequently Director (2018–2022) of the Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health Research Centre (formerly the Pacific STI and HIV Research Centre) at Fiji National University. During this period she designed and led multi-country studies funded by organisations including UNFPA, the World Bank, DFAT, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, and UNAIDS. Her work has consistently translated research findings into national and regional policies, programmes and tertiary curricula.
Ms Rokoduru is currently a confirmed PhD candidate at Te Tumu, School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies, University of Otago. Her doctoral research explores masculinities and gender-based violence among i-Taukei men in Fiji. She holds a Master of Arts in Development Studies, a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies, and a Bachelor of Arts in History/Politics and Geography from The University of the South Pacific.
Fluent in both English and iTaukei, Ms Rokoduru is widely respected for her cultural grounding, mentorship, and commitment to Pacific-led research. Her work continues to strengthen research capacity and contribute to evidence-based policy across the Pacific region.
“`