Meet the women leading the Pacific’s clean energy future

Women are powering the clean energy transition in the Pacific and Timor-Leste. Their leadership as engineers, electricians, entrepreneurs and community organisers is transforming daily life and strengthening climate resilience in some of the region’s most remote communities.

With just six weeks to go in our countdown to #COP30, we’re sharing stories that highlight how women’s leadership is creating new opportunities, strengthening communities and shaping a more inclusive clean energy future across the Pacific and beyond. These stories come from projects supported by the Australian Government through REnew Pacific and earlier pilots under the Business Partnerships Platform (BPP) Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships.

In Fiji, licensed electrician, Vasiti Talakubu, is helping roll out off-grid solar systems in schools, working on the recently announced REnew Pacific partnership with Its Time Foundation and its earlier BPP pilot. Classrooms that once relied on torchlight or kerosene lamps now have safe and reliable power. Known affectionately as “Solar,” Vasiti also runs her own business and mentors young women to pursue careers in STEM. She is breaking barriers in a male-dominated field and showing communities that women can lead the way in technical roles. Read her story here.

In Timor-Leste, Felisbela Pires, a local engineer, is leading a partnership with Engineers Without Borders Australia, Raw Material and Mara Mresa to replace costly diesel generators with solar to power coffee processing hubs. The systems are improving bean quality, opening higher-value markets and providing additional energy for refrigeration, fabrication and connectivity beyond the coffee season. Felisbela is also mentoring 12 young Timorese women engineers, building the next generation of leaders. Read her story here.

In Kiribati, Michiyo Yamada, is championing inclusive approaches to clean energy through her role at Action on Poverty. On Aranuka Island, she has helped lead a partnership with the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific Kiribati and PowerTech Energy to deliver solar-powered water pumps and electricity to schools and community houses. By embedding a strong gender lens in the project, Michiyo is ensuring women benefit directly from energy access while stepping into leadership roles that strengthen community resilience. Read her story here.

In Vanuatu, Laylyn Toa, is managing the Fixim Sola initiative made possible through a BPP partnership with UNSW. The program is building skills for solar repair and maintenance across the islands, with women stepping into hands-on technical roles and proving they can excel in the energy sector as small business owners. Laylyn’s leadership is helping create pathways for more women to take up technical careers in renewable energy. Find out more about the project here.

In Papua New Guinea, Esther Wartovo, is helping families in Bialla access affordable solar through her dual role as a MiBank and Sola PayGo agent. She supports households to finance systems, educates customers on their use and helps small businesses extend their working hours. Her work is opening doors for women in energy and strengthening community services. Find out more about the project here.

The BPP recently launched the Women in Power series, celebrating these remarkable leaders. In the weeks ahead, readers will hear more from Laylyn, Esther and others as they share their journeys and the incredible impact in their local communities they are making. Stay tuned!

These stories of women powering change come from partnerships delivered through the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP), a $350million initiative for climate infrastructure in the region delivered by the Australian Government’s Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) and implemented by Palladium.

Follow along each week as we share a new story on the road to Belém.


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