Pacific RISA, a NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnership (CAP) Welcomes New Members to Advisory Committee

Honolulu, Hawaii – Pacific RISA is thrilled to announce the appointment of nine new members to its Advisory Committee for Phase IV of its 5-year grant cycle, Building Equitable and Just Climate Solutions for Pacific Island Resilience to Compound Disasters and Extreme Events. The new members, who will serve through Fall 2026, are Kelley Anderson Tagarino, Amanda Ellis, Dr. Kealoha Fox, Matt Gonser, Kaʻāina Hull, Trina Leberer, Malia Nobrega-Olivera, Ruby Pap, and Dr. Dave White.

The NOAA Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) program (formerly known as the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program) is an applied research and engagement program that pioneers innovative new methods and partnerships that expand society’s regional and local capacity to adapt to climate impacts. The Pacific RISA focuses on climate science and adaptation research in the Pacific region. The Core Office of the CAP/RISA program is led by the ASU Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation (GIOSI), in partnership with the East-West Center, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, University of Guam, Clark University, University at Albany – SUNY, and the Micronesia Conservation Trust.

The Pacific RISA Advisory Committee provides project and program-scale guidance and input to leadership on research methods and priorities, stakeholder engagement, and direction. Members of the committee have experience in high-level state, county, and island natural resources governance, international environmental security and policy, environmental and climate justice and equity, regional and global climate partnerships, place-based expertise, and expertise in climate science, policy, and community engagement.

“We are excited to welcome these new members to our Advisory Committee,” said Dr. Victoria Keener, co-lead of Pacific RISA. “Their diverse experiences and expertise will be invaluable as we work with our partners to better understand and address the impacts of climate change in the Pacific region.”

Advisory Committee Members

Kelley Anderson Tagarino, Extension Agent for the University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant College Program American Sāmoa at the American Sāmoa Community College
Amanda Ellis, Executive Director, Asia-Pacific for the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation and Senior Director, Global Partnerships and Networks for the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University
Dr. Kealoha Fox, President & Senior Advisor of the Institute for Climate and Peace and as the Native Hawaiian Liaison at AlohaCare
Matt Gonser, Chief Resilience Officer and Executive Director of the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, City and County of Honolulu
Kaʻāina Hull, Director of the Kauaʻi County Planning Department
Trina Leberer, Director of Pacific Regional Partnerships for The Nature Conservancy
Malia Nobrega-Olivera, Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement
Ruby Pap, Coastal Land Use Extension Agent for Hawaiʻi Sea Grant, located with the Kauaʻi County Planning Department
(ex officio) Dr. Dave White, Director, Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation at Arizona State University

For more information about Pacific RISA and its work, please visit https://pacificrisa.org/.

Contact: Dr. Laura Brewington (brewingl@eastwestcenter.org) and Dr. Victoria Keener (keenerv@eastwestcenter.org) co-leads, Pacific RISA