Our team

A firm believer in the power of sport as an enabler for human development and as a common platform to facilitate friendship, Andrew has been lucky enough to be involved in sport and sport for development work in various capacities as an athlete, administrator, volunteer and educator.

His professional career has allowed him to be exposed to the work of development partners and the global sporting movement, which has increased his appreciation for human and environmental rights and their intersection with sport.

He enjoys being able to play sport whenever he can, and helping others enjoy the benefits of sport. 
 

Patrick joins the team with over 15 years of expertise in finance, grants, and operations management within the development space in the Pacific. His most recent roles were with the Pacific Community (SPC) and Oxfam International.

A recipient of the Chevening Award in 2016, and a master’s in business administration from the University of Southampton, Patrick has continuously provided solutions to address operational challenges and support the achievement of quality outcomes across numerous development projects implemented throughout the Pacific.

Patrick is also very passionate about sports and has represented Fiji on the international stage, competing in Va’a at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby and in Archery at the 2019 and 2023 Pacific Games in Apia and Honiara. 

Valda joined Team Up from the University of the South Pacific where she was the Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator with the Pacific Centre for Sustainable Development and Environment. She has more than 14 years’ experience in monitoring, evaluation and learning, and has worked at other regional organisations including the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) and the Pacific Community (SPC).

She is passionate about rugby sevens and netball, and strives to share the same love for other sports whenever she can.

Roshika is committed to social development in the region and has worked on women’s rights, gender equality, LGBTIQ rights, social cohesion, disability inclusion, and leadership development for various governments in the Pacific region, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations and international development agencies.  

She passionately advocates for the visibility and participation of marginalised and vulnerable groups in public spaces and is working actively to achieve this through her professional and volunteer work. 

Roshika has a nuanced understanding of the region’s political, social, economic, and cultural context which has enabled her to work effectively on various development issues. 
 

Aaron is a communications specialist with more than 10 years’ experience working with international government agencies in Fiji. He has extensive experience working in public diplomacy within organisations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United States Embassy in Fiji and the Australian High Commission in Fiji. While at the Australian High Commission, he was involved in highlighting the strong links between Australia and its Pacific family. He continues to promote this today through the regions shared love for sports.

Milton has been involved in sport for development for the past 10 years in Papua New Guinea, across the Pacific and internationally. His passion for sport and development stems from his years of representing PNG in hockey and his appointment to the PNG Olympic Committee’s Athletes Commission. Milton was one of five athletes inaugurated as Team PNG SDG Champions, advocating for the promotion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals through sports.

Milton’s passion for sport for development has provided him opportunities beyond the field of play to contribute to national, regional and international platforms to advance the inclusion of sports in key development outcomes. He recently completed his Master of International Development Practice with an interest in sport for development and sports diplomacy. 

Elaine is a passionate rugby union player with a deep love for sports. With her career background as an Office Administrator and Legal Assistant, she joins as our Administration and Logistics Officer based in Fiji, bringing with her a wealth of valuable experience and expertise. 

 

Melissa is an avid athlete who is a Pacific Games bronze medallist in cricket and currently enjoys being involved professionally in sport for development programs in the Pacific. She is passionate about using the transformative power of sport to elevate and empower people in the Pacific with a keen focus on gender equality, inclusion, education and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

She is a player in the Vanuatu Women’s Cricket team, and she loves the celebration of culture, skill, talent, perseverance, resilience, and community, that exists within Pacific sport. This is why she particularly enjoys sharing the stories of Pacific Island athletes with the world and has done so through working at 4 Pacific Games and Commonwealth Games as a reporter.

Melissa has worked in a few different roles in her professional life however, she looks forward to continuing to work in sport because she believes that sport is one of the most effective ways to change people’s attitudes and lives in the Pacific.

Women Win supports GHD to manage the Team Up program. Women Win team members provide specific expertise on gender equality and social inclusion, program design, partnerships and private sector engagement.