Samantha re-joins PHAMA Plus as Country Manager Solomon Islands. Previously, she held the role of Senior National Coordinator from July 2018 to June 2019; National Coordinator from July 2017 – 2018 and Group Certification Administrator for the PHAMA-supported Solomon Islands Timber Processors and Exporters Association before leaving to complete her Master of International and Development Economics at the Australian National University.

After returning from her studies in Australia, Samantha joined the Australian funded Solomon Islands Biosecurity Development Program (SIBDP) as the Program Officer supporting the strengthening of Solomon Island’s biosecurity system. She also worked as the Project Support Specialist for Nathan Cadmus, an US-funded investment development program in Solomon Islands.

Samantha has worked as an Accounts Payable Officer at Kolombangara Forest Products Limited; Medical Assistant at Sea Lark Medical Consultants and Executive Personal Assistant to the General Manager of Bank of South Pacific. In November 2015, she joined the Solomon Islands Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI) as Export Industry Development Officer.

Samantha also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Climate Change Management (Murdoch University, Western Australia) and a Diploma in Business Finance (Solomon Islands College of Higher Education).

Samantha is passionate about breaking down barriers in rural development and ensuring equal access to opportunities for marginalized populations in the country through inclusive agricultural economic growth. She envisages that through the work that she does, livelihoods can be improved, protected and ultimately lead to better lives for Solomon Islanders and encourage sustainable development into the future.

You can contact Samantha on s.maeke@phamaplus.com.au