Staff Profiles

Paul van Nimwegen is a conservation leader with over 20 years of experience with large-scale conservation initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region. He specializes in integrated land and seascape management and area-based conservation. As Country Director at WCS, Paul has overseen a significant growth and impact in the program. Previously, he led IUCN's Oceania Regional Protected and Conserved Areas Programme. His career began as a national park ranger in Australia. Paul holds a Master of Marine Conservation and Management from Murdoch University and has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications.

Akanisi Caginitoba (Cagi) is a dedicated conservationist with over 20 years of experience. She joined WCS in 2002, starting in administration and finance before transitioning to community-based management. She has worked with districts and islands to develop ridge-to-reef plans, integrating disaster risk reduction and social inclusivity. Cagi played a key role in a province-wide Integrated Coastal Management Plan and led a women’s livelihood project in Vanualevu. Passionate about conservation, she raises awareness among natural resource owners, ensuring sustainable practices. She believes in the power of understanding and education to inspire conservation efforts.

Waisea Naisilisili joined WCS in 2003 as a field collector and now leads the implementation of WCS Fiji’s landscape and integrated watershed activities, including the Fiji component of the WISH+ project. With over 20 years of experience in both terrestrial and marine environments, Waisea specializes in underwater visual census of coral reef fish, market surveys, catch monitoring, and socioeconomic surveys to assess conservation and fisheries impacts. He is also skilled in community engagement and, as a Dive Master and Boat Master Class 6, manages WCS's boating and SCUBA operations.

Sirilo Dulunaqio (Didi) has been working with WCS as a Community Liaison Officer since 2005 and is also employed part-time with the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL). Prior to coming to WCS, Didi trained and worked as a dive instructor. He received the opportunity through CORAL to visit Belize and observe their system of user tag fees, which he has helped to implement for the Namena Marine Reserve in Kubulau. As a Kubulau native, Didi provides a critical link between WCS activities and management implementation with the communities of Kubulau and adjacent districts.

Eferemo (Efe) joined WCS-Fiji in 2019 as a Community Engagement Officer and progressed to Senior Watershed Officer in November 2023. He holds a Degree in Marine Affairs and Geography from the University of the South Pacific and has 14 years of experience in natural resource management. Efe has worked with regional organizations and the Fijian government, supporting indigenous communities in ecosystem-based management and GEDSI integration. He has contributed to several publications and is passionate about species conservation and preserving traditional knowledge. In his spare time, he enjoys socializing within a diverse professional network.

Mereia Ravoka (Mia) joined WCS in 2019 as Community Engagement Assistant. She has a Bachelor in Environmental Science from the University of the South Pacific. During her final term of studies, she began volunteering at the Institute of Applied Science where she was exposed to community fieldwork. Later, she joined Fiji Locally Managed Marine Area(FLMMA) Network as an intern and then a Graduate Assistant for 2 years. Mereia has been mainly working with communities in establishing Yaubula (Resource) Management Support Team and formulating Natural Resource Management Plan from the village, district and provincial levels. She has been engaged in empowering fisherwomen in communities.

Rosi Batibasaga joined WCS in 2019 as an Intern and later progressed to her current role as a Fisheries Officer. Prior to this role, she volunteered with WWF and WCS and served as a Research Assistant for visiting PhD candidates from various universities. Rosi is deeply passionate about marine and terrestrial conservation, with a particular focus on using traditional ecological knowledge to enhance resilience in coastal communities. Her expertise spans turtle surveys, biological monitoring, socioeconomic surveys, community engagement, environmental awareness, and workshop facilitation.

Derrick Robinson serves as the Procurement and Administrative Officer at WCS-Fiji, supporting procurement and administration for various projects, including KIWA and WISH water interventions. With over 20 years of experience, he has contributed significantly to the United Nations Human Rights and UNDP. He holds a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Business Administration from the University of the South Pacific. A former hockey player, Derrick values teamwork and enjoys watching sports, reading, and cooking. Passionate about community work, he remains committed to leveraging his skills and experience to support WCS’s mission and make a meaningful impact.

Stacy Jupiter is the Melanesia Regional Director and Country Director for the Solomon Islands Program. She oversees the Wildlife Conservation Society's programs and projects in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. She specializes in community-based management, integrated land-sea management and coral reef ecology. Her Ph.D. is from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Stacy is based in Suva, Fiji and in 2019 was named a MacArthur Fellow.

Asena Motubula joined WCS in February 2023 as an Administration & Logistics Assistant. Leveraging her extensive experience in the travel industry, she quickly demonstrated her competence and effectiveness in her role. She values teamwork, emphasizes good communication, and prioritizes quality in her work. Asena was promoted to Finance Assistant for Fiji and Solomon Islands in August 2023. Building upon her achievements, in July 2024 she was further promoted to the role of Finance Officer for Fiji and Solomon Islands. With her experience, she hopes to keep learning on the job and be of great value to her team at WCS.