Gareth Quity
Degree: Master of Science in Climate Change
Graduated: September
Current Position: Climate Change Adaptation Consultant, PHRD – World Bank Project within the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology
What is your Job Position and Organisation that you are employed under?
Climate Change Adaptation Consultant, PHRD-World Bank Project, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology
What was your reason for enrolling on a Climate Change Program in PaCE-SD?
Climate Change is unequivocal and I see that it has become an important cross-cutting issue for the Pacific Islands and the small island countries like Solomon Islands, where I come from. Therefore there was a need for me to learn and understand more about climate change.
What does your current career involve? (i.e your main responsibilities)
It involves carrying out climate change adaptation assessments, climate change awareness and training on national, provincial and community level and promoting materials for schools & institutions.
How has your knowledge and skills gained from your studies assisted you and the organisation that you are working in with their duties related to climate change?
The knowledge and skills has helped me a lot especially in analysing weather data, doing community vulnerability and adaptation assessment work, and decision making in national level meetings
Can you tell us about any success stories in your career after you have graduated that you believe was made possible with your study experience at PaCE-SD?
After I completed my studies in July 2012, I started my career path by becoming a Part-time Lecturer for Climate Change course in 2013 at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU) with the School of Natural Resources and Applied Science in Department of Environmental Studies on the request of the Dean of the school, who identified me during PACE-SD Melanesian Regional Workshop on Climate Change and Food Security in June 2012 in Honiara. I also formed part of the existing Diploma Course in Climate Change working group at the same school in SINU. At the end of 2013, I was shortlisted and was accepted for a Climate Change Adaptation consultant post for a climate change project funded by Japan through World Bank called PHRD, implemented through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management & Meteorology, in Solomon Islands.
What have you done differently/better now in your job after graduation?
After graduation, I was able to transform all the knowledge that I got from my post graduate studies in climate change into my climate change adaptation work for the current project I am working in.
What ambitions do you have for the future in your career?
I want to work and help my country to tackle climate change and to be resilient by making sure all the Ministries and key sectors take into consideration climate change risk in development plans to tackle climate change
What are you most proud of in your life? (Can be a personal achievement or work related)
Am proud to become the pioneer of this climate change program in the South Pacific under the FCLP 2 and it paid off by getting me where I am now.
What inspires you to pursue the type of work that you are in?
Hard work, commitment and passion for climate change had inspired me to pursue my current work
Who is your role model and why?
Elizabeth Cox, she was the one who motivated me to take up climate change studies after I completed my undergraduate studies in which I have now excelled.