Staff
Cameron Bowles - Regional Program Director
"Working with PLP offers terrific opportunities to work with Pacific leaders making tangible changes in the Pacific region. Flexibility, real-world experience, mentoring, facilitation and productive partnerships are just some of the challenges these leaders throw at us. Nothing is more satisfying than when we meet the challenge, see the changes these leaders make and know we have supported their efforts”
Cameron is the Regional Director of the Pacific Leadership Program (PLP). He has had considerable leadership, organisational development and education experience in non-government, private and public sectors. Before joining PLP, Cameron was the Director, Education Thematic Group in AusAID responsible for the oversight of AusAID’s education work. He moved to AusAID in 2007 from the position of Chief Executive, Education Action International, a London-based charity working in Africa, the Middle East and UK with a focus on education, human rights and leadership development.
From 1996 - 2002, Cameron was Director of Trócaire (Northern Ireland), an international development and human rights charity working in Africa, South East Asia and Central America where he specialised in organisational capacity development work. Prior to this, Cameron had over ten years experience mostly in the corporate sector including positions in education, human resources and corporate banking. Cameron has been a board member of large and small organisations, and is an experienced chair and facilitator. He has an MBA as well as qualifications in development and economics.
Sandra Kraushaar - Regional Program Manager
Sandra joined the PLP team in 2011 as the Regional Program Manager. In this position, Sandra manages several of PLP's key programmatic areas, including women's and youth leadership. She is also responsible for the Communications, M&E and Research and Learning functions of the Program. Sandra works closely with the Regional Program Director to ensure timely and efficient communications back to AusAID in Canberra and to AusAID posts around the Pacific.
Prior to joining PLP, Sandra was the manager of the AusAID NGO Cooperation Program and Community Engagement. She has 15 years of professional experience in international development, working in various countries, most recently in Turkey. Sandra brings to PLP some important insights from working with membership organisations, the private sector, NGOs, UN organisations and in academia.
Lionel Gibson - Deputy Regional Program Director
Lionel Gibson is the Deputy Program Director of the Pacific Leadership Program. Lionel works closely with the members of PLP’s management team in all areas of Program planning, implementation and monitoring. He is also responsible for the establishment and management of relationships with program partners, and identifying and driving new program iniatives.
Lionel has worked in the areas of research, teaching and practice of development for more than two decades. He taught Geography at the University of the South Pacific for 15 years focusing on development geography and resource governance. From 2003 until 2010 he worked at the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific (FPSP) as Regional Governance Programme Manager and Deputy Executive Director. Lionel has conducted leadership training and research work in the Pacific with youth, church and community-based organisations and is particularly interested in working on initiatives that develop broad institutional cultures of leadership.
Shradha Sharma - Finance Specialist
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"My highlight of working for PLP has been assisting PLP partners in the Solomon Islands to establish a community of practice around financial management. This initiative has been a sustainable way for organisations to come together and share knowledge and skills in financial management."
Shradha joined PLP in May 2008 after more than 11 years working for development organisations in Fiji. As Finance Specialist, a key part of Shradha’s role is to support regional and national partner organisations to strengthen their financial management and reporting systems. In addition to her important capacity development work, Shradha is also responsible for budgeting, managing and reporting on all PLP’s finances.
Shradha has a BA in Accounting. She started her career as an auditor and prior to joining PLP was the Finance Officer at the Regional Rights Resource Team (RRRT)/UNDP.
Georgina Cope - Operations Coordinator
Georgina joined PLP in 2008, and is responsible for overseeing all of the Program’s corporate support functions, including planning, contracting, finance, administration and staffing. She is also responsible for the management of the Solomon Islands country program, and was closely involved in establishing key partnerships and activities in Samoa.
Georgina has worked in international development since 2001.
Before joining PLP, she spent three years in the Solomon Islands, and has also worked in PNG, Indonesia and Vietnam, where she was an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development. Prior this, Georgina worked in a range of communications and research roles in non-government and private sector settings in the UK, USA and Australia. She has a BA in History, a graduate qualification in communications, and a Masters in Public Administration.
Roshni Chand - Finance & Administration Officer
"Its great to work as part of such a cohesive team and support the important work of PLP. My role is always changing and I am constantly learning new things."
Roshni joined PLP in 2009, after two years working on the AusAID Fiji Education Sector Program. Roshni is responsible for the day-to- day management of all office finances and administration. She has also recently started to provide finance advice and training to PLP partners.
Prior to working in development, Roshni had extensive experience in the tourism industry including a stint in the fiberglass boat building industry.
Allan Mua Illingworth - Montioring and Evaluation Specialist
“Being part of PLP’s pioneering team, working from its inception and sharing in its growth and achievements has been immensely fulfilling. A particular highlight has been the growth of the Vanuatu Country Program, where we have worked hard to gain credibility and expand engagement with Government, the Church, Women, Youth, Civil Society and local leadership organisations.”
Allan joined PLP in 2008, where he managed various country and sector programs before being appointed as the Monitoring and Evaluating Specialist in 2011. He holds a BA in History/Politics and Sociology and a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific.
Allan has worked in the Pacific development sector since 2004, with agencies such as UNFPA, UNDP and AusAID. Prior to joining PLP Allan worked as the focal point for the UNFPA Reproductive Health Commodity Security Program, coordinating logistical and programmatic support with Ministries of Health in the Pacific.
Mereani Rokotuibau - Senior Program Officer
"The best part about working for PLP has been having the flexibility to encourage and support innovative and creative solutions to local development challenges. This has resulted in some exciting, locally-led initiatives including the establishment of the Tonga National Leadership Development Forum."
Mereani joined PLP in 2009 where she is responsible for managing PLP’s private sector and local government initiatives and Tonga Country Program. Mereani has extensive development experience, specialising in working with communities on land use and development.
Prior to joining PLP, Mereani worked at the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture, where she dealt with land development issues and coordinated a national program on sustainable community development. She holds a BA in Land Management and Property Development (1997) and a Postgrad Diploma in Development Studies (2008) from the University of the South Pacific.
Emily Hazelman-Elliot - Program Officer (Leadership Resource Hub)
"I am really excited at the opportunity to contribute to PLP's innovative work in developing local leaders across the Pacific through the Leadership Resource Hub."
Emily joined PLP in December 2011 as a Program Officer for the PLP Leadership Resource Hub. Her role is to assist with the ongoing development of this innovative initiative, which will support Pacific Island leaders to drive developmental change in the region. Emily has extensive experience in a variety of fields at both national and regional level, including both the private and public sectors.
Prior to joining PLP, Emily was the Coordinator for the Pacific Association of Technical Vocation Education and Training (PATVET) at the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC). She has a Bachelor of Arts (History/Politics & Sociology), a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies and an MBA from the University of the South Pacific.
Merewalesi Nailatikau - Communications Officer
“As a Pacific Islander, I find PLP’s work in the region motivating. I’m looking forward to building on my skills and experiences and contributing to raising the profile of leadership in the region.”
Mere joined PLP as Communications Officer at the beginning of 2012, after 2 years as a Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellow at the School of Government, Development and International Affairs at the University of the South Pacific (USP), where she was completing an MA in Development Studies. Her role involves reviewing and implementing PLP’s communications strategy, updating communications materials, establishing and maintaining relationships with stakeholders and finding new opportunities to promote PLP and its activities.
With 9 years of experience working in print, web and television media, Mere has worked at a variety of media, civil society and development organizations such as Communications Fiji Limited, Transparency International Fiji and UNICEF Pacific. She graduated with a BA in Psychology and Management and Public Administration from USP in 2008 and spent 2 years of her undergraduate studies at Saint Louis University in Madrid, Spain. Born in Suva, Fiji, Mere spent much of her early life in Papua New Guinea’s Enga Province before returning to Fiji in the early 1990’s.
Pramol Basant - Finance and Administration Assistant
Pramol joined the PLP team in early 2012 after a period of Program growth, which required addittional support with finances and administration. Pramol assists Roshni with the smooth running of the office and is the first point of contact for office visitors and telephone enquiries.
Prior to joining PLP, Pramol worked in the Accounts Department at Pasifika Communications Ltd. He holds an Advanced Department of Business Administration from Fiji National University.