Pacific Consulting Limited is led by directors Nish Vivekananthan, Peter Judge, and Corey Huber. Our work is supported by a network of consultants and specialists who are equally committed to our pursuit of a sustainable future.

Nish Vivekananthan joined Pacific Consulting Limited in 2019 and leads the firm’s work in public sector governance. A development professional and public finance specialist with more than 15 years’ experience, Nish is passionate about building effective systems for public service delivery and supporting the development industry to be more accountable to the governments and communities it supports.

Over his career Nish has worked with national and sub-national governments, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, managing contractors, NGOs and professional service firms across a range of fields including program design and management, public policy, public financial management, procurement, health systems strengthening, aid administration, compliance and assurance, evaluation, capacity assessment and humanitarian response. His recent clients include the Vanuatu Ministries of Finance and Economic Management, Education and Health, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Asian Development Bank and Save the Children Australia.

Prior to working in Vanuatu, Nish was a Policy Officer with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (having initially joined the Australian Agency for International Development’s graduate program). Here he worked across Financial Policy, Program Quality and Results and Multilateral Policy sections, as well spending a period at the Honiara post supporting, amongst other initiatives, the withdrawal/transition of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Prior to this, he was an auditor with KPMG Melbourne.

Nish holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne. He is fluent in Bislama and has worked across all provinces of Vanuatu, along with a number of other countries in the Pacific region.

Nish is also an avid scuba diver and (very) amateur underwater photographer, with some of his photos adorning the walls of the Pacific Consulting Limited office in Port Vila.

More details about Nish’s professional background can be found on his LinkedIn page.

Peter Judge joined Pacific Consulting Limited as a Director in September 2021. His primary focus is on supporting sustainable economic development through the private sector. He strongly believes in the critical role that businesses must play in the development journey, but also believes that businesses and the economy need to be designed in a way which places greater emphasis on consideration of people and the environment to ensure more equitable, sustianable, and broad-based growth. He is particularly interested in the economics of the kava industry and developing rural tourism.

Peter first came to Vanuatu in 2016 on the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Fellowship scheme, working with the Trade Development Division of the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Commerce, and Ni-Vanuatu Business.

Before joining PCL, Peter also worked as an economic consultant with the Vanuatu Tourism Office, the Vanuatu Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Prior to working in Vanuatu, Peter was a member of the UK Government’s Economics Fast Stream Programme, working for the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice, with a focus on value-for-money assessments, and economic and statistical modelling.

Peter is fluent in Bislama, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Cambridge, and a Masters of Science (Economics) with Distinction from the University of Warwick. He’s a keen visitor of the Vanuatu islands, having visited 39 and counting, and enjoys sports and board games to unwind.

More details about Peter’s professional background can be found on his LinkedIn page.

Corey Huber founded Pacific Consulting Limited in 2017 and is the firm’s principal climate specialist. Passionate about sustainable development and public governance, he brings with him nearly 15 years’ experience in public policy, project design and implementation, and capacity building. Corey is fluent in Bislama and has worked on more than 20 islands throughout Vanuatu on climate change and sustainable development initiatives, including climate finance, community-based adaptation, renewable energy and energy efficiency, ICT, public health, education, and community development.

His clients in the region have included government bodies, regional development organisations, international NGOs, local private sector firms, institutional development partners, and UN agencies. He recently served as an UNFCCC COP28 Party Delegate for the Government of Vanuatu as a climate finance technical advisor. Prior to focusing on sustainable development, Corey worked in government in California – initially for Congresswoman Lois Capps followed by President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.

An active member of the local community, Corey sits on the Executive Committee on the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council (VBRC), a subsidiary body of the Vanuatu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) focused on building private sector resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change and natural disasters. His contributions include securing USD $350,000 in the region’s first private-sector focused proposal from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness and Preparatory Support Programme.

Corey holds an MA in Leadership in Sustainable Finance from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, an MSc in Public Policy and Management from SOAS, University of London, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

More details about Corey’s professional background can be found on his LinkedIn page.

Consultants

Martina Tavoa joined PCL in January 2022 as the first graduate consultant under the firm’s Graduate Scheme. She is from Ambae, an island in the north of Vanuatu, where she studied for both her primary and secondary education. She graduated from the Fjji Campus of the University of the South Pacific in 2021 with a Bachelor of Commerce, double majoring in Economics as well as Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness. The same year, Martina earned the Australian Government-funded Governance of Growth (GfG) Economics Award for her outstanding academic performance as the top ni-Vanautu economics graduate of her class.

Following the completion of her studies, Martina taught senior Economics for one term at Ranwadi Church of Christ College in Pentecost, before joining the GfG–PCL Internship Program. Through the Program, she worked at the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu (RBV) for six months within the Economics, Research, and Statistics Department. Whilst at RBV, Martina’s tasks including helping support the labour mobility survey purposely for compiling RBV’s remittance data, and in particular conducting surveys from returned workers from the Vanuatu Seasonal Programs (SWP) and Recognised Seasonal Employment (RSE).

Martina is interested in promoting Vanuatu’s economic development by supporting farmers improve their sustainable investments in high-value crops. She strongly believes, however, that the greatest positive impact will only be achieved through collaboration between the public sector and private sector, and is excited to be working in this space through her projects with PCL. Martina also considers a combination of good morals and quality education to be two key foundations in promoting sustainable economic development. Whilst at PCL she is focusing on learning as much as possible, in particular in the areas of agriculture, economics, climate change, and technology.

Specialists

Luke is a water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and infrastructure specialist, with over a decade of experience in engineering design, clean water supply, inclusive WASH provision, school WASH needs, and community-led water resource management. Since 2016, Luke has been a regular contributor to the WASH sector in Vanuatu through engagements with locally-based NGOs and Government, supporting water infrastructure and management initiatives across five of Vanuatu's six provinces, including providing emergency WASH support following tropical cyclones, volcanic eruptions, flood events, and drought.

Luke started his career by designing heating and cooling water systems for commercial buildings in Melbourne. Whilst maintaining a specialty in piped water system design, Luke quickly expanded his range of expertise into various aspects of civil and environmental engineering, including well development and other groundwater extraction solutions, solar pumping, elevated storage and other elements of rural water supply. With the Pacific region experiencing climate change-related disturbances in small water systems on a scale never seen before, climate-resilient design is front and centre in Luke’s work.

Luke first joined Pacific Consulting Limited in 2020 to lead a revision of the WASH in Schools program for the Vanuatu Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). Since then, Luke has worked closely with MoET and its partners to further strengthen systems for Vanuatu’s schools’ WASH resilience. Through his work, Luke has developed a “Water Safety Planning” approach tailored for schools in Vanuatu, as well as helping to strengthen minimum standards for school WASH facilities with the development of the Vanuatu School WASH Facilities Guide. The Guide highlights a range of contextually appropriate designs and locally driven solutions, such as the “bamboo tippy tap”.

Luke is fluent in Bislama and holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Science from Monash University and is currently completing a Master of Integrated Water Resource Management from Griffith University.

Although residing in Vanuatu from 2016 to 2020, Luke is now based in Melbourne, Australia where he supports clients in the Pacific and Southern Africa. He travels regularly to Vanuatu to work with clients, visit friends, dive its pristine reefs and surf its uncrowded waves.

More details about Luke’s professional background can be found on his LinkedIn page.

Jorge is a labour economist with more than seven years of experience in labour market and employment policy analysis. During the last two years he has been conducting labour market research for the International Labour Organization and for the Inter-American Development Bank.

Between 2018 and 2021, Jorge worked for the Vanuatu Government under the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) fellowship program. During this time he served as a Sector Analyst with the Prime Minister’s Office and later at the Department of Labour and Employment Services as the Labour Market Research Coordinator.

Jorge obtained his PhD in Economics at the University of Birmingham. His doctoral dissertation on the implications of a minimum wage rise in Mexico was awarded with two national prizes for economic research. Before obtaining his PhD, he worked for the Ministry of Finance in Mexico between 2011 and 2014.

More details about Jorge’s professional background can be found on his LinkedIn page.

2022 Interns

In 2022, Pacific Consulting Limited hosted an internship program on behalf of the University of the South Pacific (USP) and the Australian Government’s Governance for Growth (GfG) Program in Vanuatu. Under the program, six of the top ni-Vanuatu graduates from USP’s Bachelor of Commerce course were placed with various private- and public-sector organisations in Port Vila, while undertaking an ongoing professional development program with Pacific Consulting Limited.

Jonas Iau is from Tanna, an island in the southern part of Vanuatu. He completed his primary education in his home island and then was fortunate to continue his secondary education at Onesua Presbyterian College on Efate, where he completed his year 13 in 2015. In 2016, Jonas enrolled at the USP Emalus campus, undertaking a Bachelor of Commerce. In 2021, Jonas travelled to Fiji to complete his studies at USP’s Laucala campus, majoring in Economics and Population Studies & Demography.

Being raised in a small and remote town, with few locally owned businesses and limited development opportunities, led Jonas to want to become an economist. Jonas has a passion for identifying and supporting sustainable economic activities that will promote his community, province and the nation.

Jonas completed his internship with the Vanuatu National Provident Fund (VNPF).

Daveryl Vevilovuti Tarimakem is from the northern part of the island of Ambae. She completed her studies at USP’s Emalus campus in 2021, with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Economics.

Following the completion of her studies, Daveryl participated in a three (3) week attachment at the Reserve Bank of Vanuatu.

Daveryl is interested in widening her knowledge and experience across the accounting and economics fields and using her skills to contribute positively to Vanuatu’s economy.

Daveryl was placed with with Law Partners and supported the firm’s work across both its accounting and audit practices.

Macdeline Alick is from Emau, an island off the coast of North Efate. She started her primary education at Central School and went on to attend Epauto High School. Macdeline was selected to do her Form Seven at Matevulu College in Santo, where she was awarded a Vanuatu Government Scholarship to further her studies at USP in Fiji. Here she undertook a Bachelor of Commerce, double majoring in Economics and Management & Public Administration.

Macdeline is interested in furthering the economic growth of Vanuatu, such that it may directly improve people’s standard of living. She is keen to build her understanding of the necessary economic settings that can lead to the sustainable expansion of the country’s production capacity. With her interest in research and economic data, Macdeline wishes to become a trusted and respected economic analyst.

Under the GfG Internship Program, Macdeline worked at the Department of Finance and Treasury’s Economics Unit, where had the opportunity to work with and support talented economists while learning more about the Vanuatu economy.

Barnabas Tari Ilo Aru is from Pentecost Island, located in the northern part of Vanuatu.

Barnabas attained a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics and Official Statistics, from USP’s Laucala campus in December 2021. During his studies, he was an active member of the university community while also undertaking various work attachments.

In 2018, Barnabas was a student mentor for the foundation mathematics course. In 2019, he joined the Member Financial Services as a Student Trainee investment officer for 7 months and in October 2020, Barnabas was invited to participate in a six-months industrial attachment with the Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBOS) where he supported the 2021 Fiji Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey.

Barnabas is interested to meet and work with experts in economics, which he believes is a pathway to improve his knowledge and identify economic development gaps. Barnabas also enjoys going to the cinema, doing gardening and spending time with his family and friends.

Barnabas was placed with the Vanuatu National Audit Office, where he supported the Auditor General and his team across a range of functions.

Turley Vutingele is from the island of Ambae, located in the northern part of Vanuatu.

Turley's attained a Bachelor of Commerce from USP, majoring in Public Administration & Management and Economics, following his completion of a foundation certificate at the University in 2017.

In 2018, while studying at USP’s Emalus Campus, Turley was fortunate to support a number of community initiatives around Port Vila. Supporting this community work encouraged in Turley a vision to pursue a career in public administration and economics, to help to address the issue of unemployment in Vanuatu.

Turley is interested to meet and work with experts in the economics field, which he believes is a pathway to improving his knowledge and identifying economic development opportunities at the community level. Aside from work, Turley also enjoys watching football and basketball, going fishing and spending time with his family and friends.

Turley completed his internship with the Vanuatu Aid for Trade Management Unit within the Ministry of Tourism, Trade, Industry, Commerce & Ni-Vanuatu Business.

Alynne Hopa is from the island of Ambrym. She completed her Bachelor of Commerce degree at USP, majoring in Economics and Accounting, in December 2021.

Since high school, Alynne has had a strong interest in pursuing economics and accounting. Alynne plans to gain as much knowledge and work experience as possible during her early career and relate this work back to concepts and theories that she’s learnt during her degree program. She believes that these experiences will contribute to her goal of becoming a financial analyst.

Under the GfG Internship Program, Alynne worked with the Department of Finance and Treasury where she supported the Accounts Unit in managing a range of public sector accounting functions.