Emma Christopher holds a Postgraduate degree in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of the South Pacific. She spent six years at the Fiji New Zealand High Commission Post managing gender, housing, and inclusion programmes, focused on empowering vulnerable communities and promoting equity.
Prior to joining Fiji Post, Emma gained 10 years valuable experience in the NGO sector, where she worked closely with diverse communities across Fiji and the region. In this role, she learned and echoed the importance of community engagement and participatory development, believing that effective solutions must stem from the needs and perspectives of those directly affected. Emma has a hands-on approach and has facilitated workshops and training sessions, building relationships with communities to lead in identifying challenges and developing strategies to address them.
“Listening to community voices and incorporating their insights into program design is very important to me, and I am motivated and excited to work with VSA who operate on similar partnership principles to build trust and collaborative development ambitions”, says Emma.
Emma values meaningful conversations, often engaging in talanoa over kai or tea, which she considers a vital aspect of relationship-building and cultural exchange. She is always open to hearing other perspectives, having a talanoa, and sharing laughter over a cup of tea.
