Our Story - Pacific Farmer Organisations
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Our Story

Board
Team

Background

The Pacific Island Farmers Organisation Network serves as an umbrella organisation for national farmer organisations in the Pacific region, to coordinate capacity building, share success stories and the lessons learnt and support regional exchanges of expertise between farmer organisations and their associated private sector partners.

We began informally operating in 2008, and registered as a not-for-profit company in 2013. Today we represent a vibrant and growing network of national farmer organisations that are increasingly changing the face of agriculture in the region. Our secretariat is based in Nadi, Fiji and has grown from two part-time staff working out of a shared office, to having our current staff working from our own space.

Meet Our Board

Minoru Nishi

Chairman | Managing Director, Nishi Trading Company

Maria Linibi

Board Director | Founder, Papua New Guinea Women In Agriculture & Development

Serenia Madigibuli

Board Director | Course Director, Tutu Rural Training Centre

Peter Koah

Board Director | Associate Director, Farm Support Association

Fr. Petero Matairatu

Board Director | Director, Tutu Rural Training Centre

Aileen Burness

Board Director | Managing Director, South Sea Orchids

Meet Our Team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Kyle Stice

The wind beneath our wings, this American born but Fijian die-hard horticulturist has been there right from the word ‘Go’ for Pacific Islands Farmers Organisation Network. Even though he’s wearing many organizational hats and being a husband and father to his very supportive wife and four feisty children , Kyle has managed to keep the Pacific Islands Farmers Organisation Network boat sailing with ease.

FINANCE MANAGER

Aneet Kumar

Aneet joined Pacific Islands Farmers Organisation Network in 2014 after having had 8 years of experience in the finance arena in various NGO’s.  Money matters has always been Aneet’s baby and he doesn’t see himself doing anything else in the near future. After a hard week’s work, our Money Man always looks forward to chilling with his family and friends.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Illeyah Draunidalo

The face behind PIFON’s social media pages and those exciting posts, single and eccentrically creative, Illeyah joined PIFON with a creative background, an artist in her own right. Since joining PIFON she has turned up the heat in the communications arena breaking out stories of what PIFON members are doing from their 9 countries around the Pacific on what they do best in farming in the Pacific to make an impact on the ground where it matters.

GRANTS MANAGER

Losalini Qiolevu

When the tough gets going, the tough is Lo that keeps it going as the Finance & Program Officer. A single mother of two who has vast experience of handling finance for non-profit organisations, joining PIFON at the outset of the FO4ACP project to bring depth into the admin team with her experience. Lo is the ‘go to’ person for the little details, follow up and makes sure accounts are paid, travel bookings made, hotels organised so PIFON and its members can do their work to serve their farmers.

PROGRAM MANAGER, M&E

Angela Birch

The number cruncher in the program team at PIFON, Angela ensures that the impact of the activities conducted by PIFON’s members is reported to reflect the great work done by its Farmer Organisation members. Angela spent most of her life working in the tourism industry before venturing into agriculture, an ‘exciting new chapter’. A former athlete and now a mum, she volunteers her time for sports administrator duties, seeing her regularly driving to Suva to attend various family and sporting obligations, providing the balance to her work.

PROGRAM MANAGER

Mohinesh Reddy

Incredibly passionate about empowering local farmers, Mohinesh Reddy is making a real difference behind the FORI Pacific Breadfruit Project that’s bringing about positive changes in Pacific communities. In his free time, he’s usually out and about in the company of friends and family exploring local markets, trying new foods, and immersing himself in different cultures!

PROGRAM OFFICER

Merewalesi Bogi Rokosawa

With her deep-rooted love for nature and biodiversity conservation, Merewalesi Bogi Rokosawa is passionate about making a positive impact on the world around her having grown up in a rural community surrounded by mangrove forests and the ocean! You can find her tending to her beautiful flowers, getting creative with DIY projects, exploring flea markets, and visiting new places with her loved ones when she’s not busy at work.

PROJECT COORDINATOR – FORI – PACIFIC BREADFRUIT PROJECT

IAN KENNEDY

Ian Kennedy has an unstoppable drive that gets things done! He joined Pacific Farmer Organisations in 2022 to take on Breadfruit People and assist the FORI – Pacific Breadfruit Project. He has a passion for supporting farmers with prior experience growing and advocating for more local-grown food in Hawai’i schools. When he’s not crushing it at work, he likes to spend as much time with friends and family in the ocean – diving, fishing and surfing!

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