Meet the Board
Our Board of Directors brings together deep expertise in technology, climate policy, international cooperation, and regional development. With a strong commitment to cooperative governance, transparency, and high-integrity climate action, the Board provides strategic oversight and ensures our work remains aligned with the evolving needs of the Pacific.
Richard Corkish
Director & Chairman
Dr Richard Corkish is a distinguished figure in the field of photovoltaics and renewable energy, with a career spanning over three decades. He served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics (ACAP), a premier national research consortium focused on next-generation solar energy technologies, overseeing a variety of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the photovoltaic industry. He also served as Head of the School of Photovoltaic & Renewable Energy Engineering (SPREE) at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), solidifying the school's reputation as a global leader in energy research and education. Dr Corkish is also Program Manager at UNSW's Energie Renouvelable Vanuatu (UNSWERV) initiative, which has been implementing renewable energy and water supply solutions in remote off-grid communities in Vanuatu since 2007.
Geoff Stapleton
Director
Geoff Stapleton is a seasoned expert in solar energy, with a career spanning over four decades. He has been actively involved in the industry since 1987 and is widely known as an industry pioneer. He serves as a Director at GSES, a multi-disciplinary organisation specialising in professional engineering and training services in renewable energy. Geoff also serves as the Director of International Training and part-time Executive Officer of the Sustainable Energy Industry Association of Pacific Islands (SEIAPI), where he supports the development of renewable energy industries across the Pacific region. He has also led notable initiatives with the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), where he serves as Chair of the ISES Online Solar Energy Museum Committee, aiming to document and promote the history and development of solar energy technologies.
Manu Rawali
Director
Manu has extensive experience in Papua New Guinea's (PNG) energy sector and wider development network. He is the Founding Director of the Centre of Renewable Energy of UPNG (CoRE) and has been performing critical work in the PNG energy sector in advising several international donors and multilateral partners, including taking part in implementation projects from scoping missions and feasibility studies to construction monitoring. Manu has, through CoRE and individually, collaborated on projects in PNG and the Pacific with ITP Power, JID, ECA, TTA-Spain, IFC, Entura, PNG Power and SPC. He is also the Co-Founding Director of Maeka, an independent, not-for-profit entity established to provide energy advisory and project development services across PNG, with a strong focus on expanding energy access in rural and underserved communities.
Edoardo Santagata
Director & Secretary
Edoardo Santagata is an energy systems engineer and climate policy consultant with a deep commitment to advancing inclusive and resilient energy transitions, particularly in Pacific Islands. He has worked extensively with governments, development and CROP agencies, and research institutions across the region, contributing to energy planning and climate finance initiatives. He has supported national and sub-national energy planning efforts in several countries including Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands. He serves as Project Coordinator for the University of New South Wales' Energie Renouvelable Vanuatu (UNSWERV) initiative, supporting the installation and maintenance of remote renewable energy and water supply systems in Vanuatu. Edoardo has also held senior management roles at La Maddalena, an agricultural and land management company based in Italy, notably facilitating the acquisition and development of rural agri-PV projects.
