Koreti Leilani Matavao

Koreti Leilani Matavao is the Principal Officer of the Energy Policy Unit within the Asset Management Division at Samoa's Ministry of Finance. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations and Political Science from Victoria University of Wellington and a Master’s Degree in Climate Change from the Australian National University. Since 2015, Leilani has been an integral part of Samoa’s energy sector, playing key roles in shaping national energy policies and strategies. Some notable contributions include the Samoa Energy Sector Plans (2017–2022 and 2023/24–2027/28), the Energy Management Act 2020, and the Samoa Energy Efficiency Act 2017. She has also managed impactful donor-funded projects, such as the Pacific Appliance Labelling Standards (PALS) and the EU-GIZ ACSE project on sustainable bioenergy, and contributed significantly to the Samoa Energy Bill.

Leilani excels at navigating complex policy landscapes and collaborating effectively with stakeholders at local, regional, and international levels. Her experience in policy development, regulatory oversight, and climate resilience equips her to contribute meaningfully to discussions on operationalizing carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Drawing from Samoa’s energy transition and its alignment with international climate goals, she offers valuable insights to support the development of robust and sustainable carbon market frameworks across the Asia-Pacific region.