New Ocean Voices Fellow: Renee Richa Hill-Lewenilovo

Renee Hill-Lewenilovo hails from Somosomo, Taveuni (Cakaudrove Province) and grew up in the capital city of Suva in Fiji. She is an experienced consultant with a robust background in marine science, holding a Post Graduate Diploma in the field. She has worked with The Pacific Community, The University of the South Pacific, and collaborated with various non-governmental organizations, where she leveraged her expertise to contribute to a range of marine science projects. Renee's educational and practical experiences have sharpened her skills in research, data analysis, and scientific communication. Her extensive regional work has also sparked a deep interest in Indigenous knowledge systems, particularly in unraveling the sciences behind traditional practices and lunar calendar systems. Renee is passionate about using these knowledge systems to bridge the gap between science and policy, ensuring that Indigenous voices are heard and integrated into sustainable ocean management. Her research interest topic is to investigate the fisheries lunar traditional calendars of Melanesian countries to further investigate fisheries knowledge gaps of important food fish reef species in the Pacific. Renee is highly organized and an excellent communicator, she excels in complex problem-solving and is committed to contributing to innovative projects that promote ocean conservation and sustainability in her future career. 

During the fellowship, Renee will be examining Pacific Traditional Knowledge on Migratory Species to Address Science-Policy Gaps in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ) and Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).