Marita Manley is an environmental economist with almost fifteen years experience working on food security, climate change, environmental policy and
regulation.
She started her career working for the UK Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and worked to support the implementation of environmental regulation to reduce emissions from large industrial facilities.
She moved to Fiji in 2006 with her partner to work on an Overseas Development Institute (ODI) Fellowship for the Pacific Community (SPC) as a resource economist within their Land Resources Division, supporting the implementation of agricultural and forestry related projects with economic analysis. During this time she also contributed to strategic planning, proposal development and project evaluation. Following her two-year fellowship she continued with LRD as an agriculture and forestry policy adviser revamping the Pacific Agriculture and Forestry Policy Network (PAFPNet) and supporting Pacific Island Countries with policy analysis, consultation and development.
In 2010 she joined the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusamenarbeit (GIZ) as a climate change adviser specialising in monitoring and evaluation and knowledge management and with management responsibility for the regional component of the Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR) Programme.
In 2013, Marita and her husband Matt established a small hiking business, Talanoa Treks working in partnership with four rural communities in Viti Levu’s interior. Talanoa Treks’ vision is to showcase Fiji’s stunning natural environment and authentic rich culture through guided single- and multi-day treks.
In 2016 Marita joined Matt and now works full time as a Talanoa Treks Director and independent consultant.
Marita and Matt have been personal members of NFMV since its establishment in 2007 and Talanoa Treks has been a Corporate Member since 2013.
Marita has a BA (Hons) in Economics from King’s College, Cambridge University and an MSc in Environmental Economics from University College London.