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Program
Plenary / Keynote

Opening Session

Monday 5 October 2026 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Ballroom 2

About this session

The Opening Plenary Session of the Vale ni Vanua Knowledge Exchange: Pacific Pre-COP31, in the Ballroom at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa. Doors and seating open from 8:45 AM. The order of proceedings is below, and the program can also be downloaded as a PDF.

Speakers

IB
Mr. Inoke Bainimarama
Master of Ceremony
JB
Reverend James Bhagwan
Pacific Conference of Churches
LT
Hon. Lynda Tabuya
Minister for Environment and Climate Change
Fiji
CB
Hon. Chris Bowen MP
Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Australia
SH
Ms Sally Higgins
COP31 Presidency Youth Climate Champion
MI
Ms Miliana Iga
Pacific representative
Pacific Youth Council
EI
Ms Emeline Siale Ilolahia
Executive Director
Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO)
RV
Dr Rufino Varea
Director
Pacific Islands Climate Action Network
NN
Ms Noelene Nabulivou
Official Representative, UNFCCC Women and Gender Constituency
DIVA for Equality
SS
Mr Simon Stiell
Executive Secretary
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
TS
Ms Tina Stege
Pacific Envoy
Republic of the Marshall Islands
JM
Justin Mohamed
Ambassador for First Nations People
LN
Ms Lavenia Naivalu
Pacific Indigenous Representative
MO
Ms Michele O’Neil
President
Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
FA
Mr. Felix Anthony
General Secretary
Fiji Trades Union Congress
EB
Mr. Edward Benard
CEO
Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation
AS
Dr Awnesh Singh
JG
Hon. Julia Gillard
Chair
Wellcome Trust
SM
Dr Sivendra Michael
Government of Fiji
MK
H.E. Murat Kurum
COP31 President-Designate & MInister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Republic of Türkiye
Türkiye

Agenda

Doors and seating from 8:45 AM. Program 9:00 AM to 11:45 AM.

Session details

Format
Plenary / Keynote
Date
Monday 5 October 2026
Time
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Where
Ballroom 2
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
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Places
451 of 451 taken
WEB ID
ZZPWXA5E
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