Climate Change Resilience
Pacific Women in Climate Change - Meet Ms. Olai Uludong who hails from Palau, serving as the Chief Negotiator of the Alliance of Small Island States, on behalf of Nauru as AOSIS Chair
The 6th in a series of features by SPREP's Nanette Woonton, showcasing Pacific Women that are leaders in Climate Change.
You can take an island girl out of the islands but you cant take the islands out of this island girl!" - Ms. Ngedikes "Olai" Uludong
Two Pacific women are at the helm of the Alliance of Small Island States.
Ambassador Marlene Moses, Nauru's Permanent Representative to the UN is the Chairperson of AOSIS. Ms Olai Uludong is the Chief Negotiator for the bloc that represents 44 states and observers at the UN climate change talks.
This has been a huge adjustment for Olai who used to represent one country at the conferences of the parties for UN multi-lateral environment agreements, her own. Now she negotiates on behalf of AOSIS and has filled this role for a year.
"It's very difficult, challenging and it takes a lot of my time, I now represent over 40 nations when I negotiate on their behalf!" Said Olai who interestingly enough, was once a member of the US military while doing her Undergraduate Studies at the University of Guam.
"This year I have attended a number of negotiations and meetings on behalf of AOSIS in the cross cutting areas of climate change and not only is the work itself demanding, but the traveling also really takes a toll on you."
Being a Chief Negotiator has been a major learning curve for Olai in so many ways.
"It's tough here as you deal with so many different nationalities, backgrounds and cultures. There are cultures that respond to women in a certain way and I have had to learn that, as a Chief Negotiator I am mindful of how important respect is and I've had to make changes in my approach so all of this is taken into account. It has been a real learning experience for me as a Pacific woman."
Olai worked for the Government of Palau after graduating from the University of Guam, it was while there that she rose up the ranks and amassed a wide range of skills under her growing role. She then got her Post Graduate and Masters on Climate Change from the University of the Pacific and then moved on to work for the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
She originally entered the environment field as an environmental educator for the Palau Environmental Quality Protection Board helping to raise awareness on environment issues and good practices. From here she joined the Office of the President of Palau focusing on the issue of climate change, becoming the Palau Climate Change Coordinator. Managing the climate change grants fund this then led to climate change educational awareness, project management and the development of Palau's second national communications.
"While I became the National Environment Planner, Director of the Office for Environmental Response and Coordination I also served as the Special Assistant to the Chief Negotiator for the Palau Compact Agreement we have with the United States," said Olai.
"Before I left to continue my studies I was appointed to oversee a Board of Directors with the power company to look at the overall energy corporation during this time as well."
Olai completed her Masters Degree on climate change with her thesis on the ability of the Marshall Islands to adapt to climate change taking into account colonisation, returning to the Marshall Islands to work before joining AOSIS.
The impetus for her to accept the challenge of Chief Negotiator for AOSIS has been her philosophy, a strength she has acquired from her parents -
"If my parents were strong and aggressive enough to fight for the rights of Palau, then I can carry this legacy on. Just because I am a woman doesn't mean that I can't participate in negotiations, seen as predominantly a male world. Any Pacific woman can do this, have strength in yourself and faith, I believe in God and a reason for everything. I'd like to see more Pacific women in this field - we can do it."
In talking to Olai I have learnt that her biggest challenge and sacrifice has been leaving her nine year old daughter in Palau with family while she embarked on her career. It was best that she remained in Palau with all that was familiar to her and the strong family networks.
Olai's schedule here in Warsaw, Poland and as with other inter-sessional conferences she attends during the year, the hours are long and demanding. It is at these UN Climate talks that negotiations under different threads go through the night, finishing during daylight hours the next day.
For Olai, after working such a long schedule, speaking with her daughter is her reward.
"I get to spend time with her as often as I can and its hard. What gives me comfort is that she is my biggest supporter, she knows what I do for a living and I spoke to her in June and she said - 'Mom, I'm really proud of you'. I am glad she understands what I do as I thought she was too young, but she does, she knows - Mommy is trying to save the world."