Master of Law and Development
University of Melbourne, VIC
Atenasi is an experienced development leader with expertise in sustainable economic development and gendered-violence prevention, and qualifications in international law and marine science. Since completing her Master of Law and Development at the University of Melbourne in 2018, Atenasi has taken on many leadership roles, including Solomon Islands Program Manager for the International Women's Development Agency (IWDA) and CEO of the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI).
She has advised on and led initiatives to boost collaboration between private and public sector agencies to promote gender equality and build the capacity of businesses and local NGOs to implement sustainable community income generation strategies. She has also worked with organisations, including the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Japan, to lead strategic promotion of Pacific products and services in Australia.
Prior to taking up her Australia Award, Atenasi worked closely with a range of international development agencies and government departments over a decade, including United Nations Women, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Government of Solomon Islands. Her work has taken her to Kiribati to work on education initiatives and to Vanuatu to manage grants that support ending violence against women. She was also a member of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) from 2007 to 2010 and a Board Member of the Solomon Islands Community Conservation Partnership (SICCP) from 2020 to 2021.
Atenasi has also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Studies from the University of the South Pacific.
