Minerals, and the metals they contain, are an essential component of the modern high-tech world. Global stocks of raw mineral resources continue to dwindle in absolute terms, leading to increased pressures to access previously unattainable mineral deposits - including those lying at the bottom of the ocean.

The SPC-EU DSM Project aims at providing technical assistance to the 15 Pacific-ACP States, with a focus on supporting them to develop and implement comprehensive policy and legislative frameworks as a means to ensure that deep sea mining is a viable economic option they could efficiently utilize to meet development goals as well as strengthen national independence and autonomy. To this end, it is of critical importance to ensure that the environmental and social risk associated with deep sea activities are not only properly identified and assessed but also, managed in a sustainable manner.

 As part of its capacity-building objective, and following the success of the Legal Internship Scheme, the Project is now initiating an Environmental Internship Scheme.  

The aim of this scheme is to build a sustainable source of in-country environmental expertise, as the interns are encouraged to return to their country to work with national authorities involved in deep sea minerals activities.

As a result, this scheme will provide a 2 month internship position with the Project at the Geoscience Division (AGTD), SPC, Suva. Interested applicants should have graduated in the fields of environment, marine studies or other applicable disciplines. Priority will be given to applicants from the participating countries who are under a bond that requires them to work for their government after completing their studies.

Environment Interns will be working closely with the Project’s Environment Advisor in delivering the Key Result Areas.

 Position Description

The successful candidate will:

• assist Project Environment Advisor in his/her work including the development of Project related publications;
• undertake environmental research tasks;
• draft file notes, discussion papers, information brochures and summaries;
• provide proof-reading and editing assistance to Project documents;
• correspond with relevant stakeholders;
• attend meetings, teleconferences and web conferences;
• assist with any other ad hoc tasks arising.

 The successful candidate will be efficient, hard-working, enthusiastic and must possess superior research abilities and excellent written and oral communication skills.

 Internship Sessions

8 Internships will be offered as follows:

Mid June – Mid August 2015

Mid August – Mid October 2015

Mid October – Mid December 2015

Start January – End February 2016

 

How to Apply

Applications should include:

• CV
• Cover letter explaining:

-   which member country you are from – are you on bond to the government?

-   why you are interested in this position?

-   what you consider you could bring to the role?

-   your preferred internship date, and second preference.

 

For any enquiries on the Environment Internship Scheme, please contact: Ms Vira Atalifo, DSM Project Support Officer, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

---

 Environment Government Official

 

Name: Cardinia Funganitao
Nationality: Tonga
Trainee Duration: 25 August-4 September 2015
Background: Cardinia graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and Geography from the University of the South Pacific and is currently the Assistant Geologist for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources Division in Tonga. She spent two weeks with the DSM Project, undertaking training on the environmental management of deep sea minerals. Her task included producing a report summarizing all publications and data on deep sea minerals marine scientific research (MSR) and exploration in Tonga’s EEZ to date. This information can be used to assist Tonga to characterize their deep sea environment and inform MSR and Exploration Licensing and future marine management

 

 

---

 Environment Interns

Name: Nancy Defe
Nationality: Solomon Islands
Duration: 30 March-5 June 2015
Background: Nancy completed a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from the University of the South Pacific before joining the Project as the 3rd Environment Intern. During her internship, she conducted a literature review on deep sea minerals studies undertaken in the Solomon Islands. She also assisted with research for the Regional Environment Management Framework (REMF) for Deep Sea Mineral Activities, and an information brochure on Cobalt-rich Crusts.

 

 

---

 

Name: Ms Naomi Coalala
Nationality: Fiji
Duration: 27 January-31 March 2015
Background: Naomi graduated from the University of Porto in Portugal, with a Masters in Environmental Science in 2013. She joined the Project as the 2nd Environment Intern. During her internship, her main tasks included providing content for the DSM Projects website, researching and drafting text for the Regional Environment Management Framework and she has begun drafting a brochure on Cobalt-rich Crusts’ environments. “The internship allowed me to work on numerous tasks that will contribute to my professional development. I really enjoyed learning from the DSM Project. This experience has opened my eyes to the importance of international and regional co-operation in promoting environmental sustainability.”

 

---

 

 

Name: Mr Melino Bain-Vete

Duration: November – December 2014

Nationality: Fiji/Tonga

Mr Bain Vete was awarded the first Environment internship for the DSM Project last year.As an environment intern worked closely with the Project's   Environment Advisor Ms Alison Swaddling on tasks including the development of Project related publications , and environmental    research tasks also undertaking other ad hoc tasks for the DSM Project.

Background: Melino is a graduate of Dartmouth College, USA where he majored in Geography and minored in French in 2012 and in 2013 completed his Masters in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development focusing on Natural Resource, Intellectual Property and Climate Change  & Policy from London University. Melino was recruited as a legal and environment intern where he completed the first draft of Fiji's Offshore Minerals Policy and the Brochure on Environment and Biology associated with Manganese Nodules including other legal research tasks.  

​

Under Pressure is a short video that examines the perspectives of different stakeholders involved with deep sea mineral resources in the Pacific.

Several Pacific Island nations are eagerly eyeing up the potential economic benefits from valuable deep sea mineral resources that have been discovered within their extensive maritime territories. Rising global demand for metals, combined with advances in mining technology, have spurred a rush of commercial interest in the potential profits to be gleaned from the depths of the ocean floor.  

These Pacific Island countries have now become the centre of an international debate over whether the sustainable economic benefits for Pacific Islanders will outweigh the environmental risks of harvesting these precious metals from the bottom of the sea. This short film examines the deep sea mining issue from a number of perspectives including anti-deep sea mining NGO’s, politicians, government agencies, deep sea mining companies, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Under Pressure is the first of a series of two films supported by the SPC-EU funded Pacific Deep Sea Minerals Project. The next film, Out of Darkness will explore the current state of scientific knowledge about deep sea minerals in the Pacific and the current situation in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Island country that has been at the centre of the deep sea mining debate.

 

 

"Out of Darkness" documentary focuses on environmental impacts of deep sea mining.

Following the success of its first documentary "Under Pressure", the SPC-EU Deep Sea Minerals project has now produced a second 25-minute film that focuses on the potential environmental issues related to the extraction of deep sea mineral resources.

This new film, titled “Out of Darkness”, includes some spectacular underwater footage and interviews with leading scientists such as Dr Malcolm Clarke from NIWA, Dr Jim Hein from the US Geological Survey and Dr Ray Binns from CSIRO.

 

SPC-EU DSM PROJECT TEAM LEADER 

             

Name: Mr Akuila Tawake

Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Contact: (679) 3249272 or (679) 3381377 ext: 36272

Mr Tawake, MSc, is the Team Leader for the SPC-EU DSM Project. Prior to his appointment to this post, Akuila was the Senior Adviser - Aggregates Geology at the Geoscience Division (GSD) for more than 7 years. He is a member of the International Marine Minerals Society (IMMS) and the Fiji Mining and Quarrying Council, and the SPC regional correspondent for the InterRidge News. Akuila also worked as an Exploration/Mine/Project Geologist at an operating mine and two other exploration projects in Fiji for a further 7 years. Akuila has relevant experience working with a broad range of stakeholders in the minerals/mining industry including governments, regional and international organisations, academic institutions, Private sector, NGOs, Communities and resource owners.

 

---

SPC-EU DSM PROJECT LEGAL ADVISOR 

 Name : Marie Bourrel

Email address : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Phone Contact : 679 3249292 Fax: + 679 3370040 Ext: 36 292
Marie Bourrel is the Legal Adviser for the SPC-EU DSM Project. Marie has a background on International Law, Law of the Sea, shipping Law, Environmental Law, European Law, Marine Policy, Ocean Management & Sustainable Development. Prior to joining the DSM Project, Marie worked as a Policy and Legal Adviser for the Economic Development Division (EDD) of SPC with a particular focus on maritime issues (maritime safety and environment protection). She holds two Master of Laws degrees (Law of the Sea and shipping; International Law and Economics with honours) from the University of Nantes, in France and is a Research Associate at the Research Institute for International and European Law of the Sorbonne Law School, Paris. She has managed a range of international law of the sea related research and been involved in several case law for intergovernmental organisations, industry and Governments from both developing and industrialised countries, within and outside the Pacific Islands region. Marie has also published an extensive number of papers related to emerging Law of the Sea or Environmental Law issues.

---

 

SPC-EU DSM PROJECT ENVIRONMENT ADVISOR

 

Name: Ms Alison Swaddling
Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone Contact: (679) 3249292 or (679) 3381377 ext: 36292

Alison Swaddling is the Environmental Advisor for the SPC-EU DSM Project. Alison has a background in Deep Sea Biology, Offshore Exploration and Environmental Impact Assessment. With qualifications in Media Communications and Marine Science, Alison was part of the team that developed the world's first Environmental Impact Assessment for deep-sea resource production. She has participated in offshore exploration campaigns in Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Fiji, and has implemented community engagement and development programmes in PNG. Alison is a member of the International Marine Minerals Society, the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, and the Fiji Environmental Law Association.

 

   

---

 

 SPC-EU DSM PROJECT SUPPORT OFFICER

 

Name: Ms Vira Atalifo
Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone Contact: (679) 3249303 or (679) 3381377 ext: 36303
Vira graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Marine Affairs and Tourism Studies) from the University of the South Pacific in 2009 and PGDip Climate Change in 2012. She is currently completing her 2nd PGDip in Environmental Geoscience. Vira was attached with SOPAC in 2011 as a trainee with the Maritime Boundaries Project and joined the DSM Project in 2011. She is responsible for coordinating all Project logistics, the development of the Regional Marine Minerals Database, advising PIC counterparts on the development of their National Offshore Minerals Committees etc.

 

 

 

---

 

SPC-EU DSM PROJECT LEGAL ASSISTANT

Name: Mrs Annie Siose
Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone Contact: (679) 3249210 or (679) 3381377 ext:36210
Annie completed her LLB (Bachelor of Law) degree in July 2012 and PDLP (Professional Diploma in Legal Practice) in December 2012. She was an intern for the DSM project in November 2012 and in May 2013 joined the DSM Project as the Legal Assistant. She assists Marie with the legal aspects concerning deep sea mineral activities and also assists Vira with administrative and database management.

 

 

 

 

---

 SPC-EU DSM PROJECT ASSISTANT

Name: Mrs Heilala Erenavula

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone Contact : 679 3249257 Fax: + 679 3370040 Ext: 36 257

Heilala graduated with a Professional Diploma in Business Management (PDBM) from the University of the South Pacific in 2014 and has recently completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Human Resource Management (PGC-HRM) from USP’s Graduate School of Business in 2015. She is currently completing her Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGD-BA) at USP’s Graduate School of Business. She is the most recent addition to the DSM team and brings with her 6 years of experience in Project Management. She handles the DSM projects administrative activities and assists Vira with coordinating all Project logistics.

 

 

---

 

 

SPC-EU DSM PROJECT COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT 

Name: Onorina Saukelo
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Onorina graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Literature, Language and Journalism) from the University of the South Pacific. She was an intern for the DSM project in March 2015 and later joined the DSM Project in June 2015 as the Communications Assistant. She is responsible for the preparation of Project communication materials and assisting Pacific ACP States on DSM Communication and Awareness.