Mary MacKillop Today and Women in Aid & Development bring you Pacific voices from the frontlines of Climate and Development

As we mark Earth Day and look toward the global gathering of women at the Women Deliver conference in Melbourne, we recognise that climate justice and gender justice are inseparable and that the power to protect the planet lies within communities themselves.

Mary MacKillop Today and Women in Aid & Development invite you to join Pacific leaders for a powerful conversation on climate justice in the Pacific.

Communities across the region are already experiencing the escalating impacts of climate change, from rising seas and food insecurity to displacement and economic instability. These challenges are not gender neutral: women and girls are disproportionately affected, yet they are also leading solutions within their communities.

This event brings together an inspiring panel of women with lived experience of and expertise in climate change management in communities, amplifying frontline voices on the intersection of climate change, gender equality, disability equity, and sustainable development. Together, our panel will explore how women’s leadership, community resilience, and faith-driven action are shaping a more just and sustainable future for our planet.

Cost: This event is FREE to attend. 

Thank you to Pitcher Partners for their support in providing the venue and refreshments.

 *Please note that there will be photography at this event.

Speakers

Sophie Jenkins

Sophie is a passionate international development leader with extensive experience driving strategy, innovation and development impact through locally-led partnerships, with a strong focus on the Asia-Pacific. Prior to joining ChildFund, Sophie held a number of roles within the development sector, most recently as the Impact Associate Director with Caritas Australia.

 Sophie holds a Masters in International Development (Forced Migration and Refugee Studies) from the University of New South Wales and is a passionate advocate for authentic partnerships and safe, equitable and inclusive programming.

Sera Osborne

Sera Blanche Maude Baleivuna Osborne is a dedicated disability rights advocate and the Office Manager and Project Officer at the Psychiatric Survivors Association (PSA) in Fiji, with over a decade of leadership advancing the rights, dignity, and inclusion of persons with psychosocial disabilities.

She has been at the forefront of advocacy across Fiji and the Pacific, leading initiatives on disability inclusion, the CRPD, mental health awareness, suicide prevention, access to justice, and gender-based violence. 

Through her governance roles on national and regional advisory councils, she continues to influence mental health services and disability policy, championing a rights-based, inclusive, and people-centered approach across the Pacific.

Sainiana Rokovukago

Sainiana Rokovucago is the Caritas Oceania Regional Coordinator and Caritas Australia Country Representative for Fiji, supporting partners including Caritas Samoa, Caritas Tonga, Caritas Fiji, and FRIEND in strengthening community resilience and delivering inclusive climate and development programs.

With over 20 years of leadership across the Red Cross Movement, AusAID, Marie Stopes Pacific, civil society, and government, she brings deep expertise in program management, partnership building, and humanitarian action. Sainiana is a strong advocate for climate justice, gender equality, and the empowerment of frontline communities across the Pacific.

Jane Sloane

Facilitator

Jane is the inaugural Director of the Global Policy Initiative at UNSW. She previously served as a Senior Director for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality at The Asia Foundation, based in San Francisco, working with the foundation’s 17 country offices across Asia and the Pacific. Her other roles have included Vice President of Programs at the Global Fund for Women (San Francisco), Vice President of Development at Women’s World Banking (New York), Executive Director of the International Women’s Development Agency (Melbourne), and founding CEO of the Social Entrepreneurs Network (Sydney).

Jane holds a BA (Hons History) from the University of Adelaide and a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney. She received a humanitarian medal from the Vietnam Women’s Union, a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Adelaide, an Alumni Award for Service to Humanity from the University of Sydney, and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Adelaide.

She is a Senior Atlantic Fellow with the Inequalities Institute at The London School of Economics, a Trustee of Practical Action (UK) and a board member with Mary MacKillop Today.