About the reporters

Meet our reporters for the University of the South Pacific project.


Akansha Narayan
Illustration by Eejoon Choi

Akansha Narayan

Akansha Narayan is a final year student at the University of the South Pacific majoring in journalism and literature and language. She has worked as a radio jockey for the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and Communications Fiji Limited and aspires to be a journalist. She is passionate about writing more about women empowerment, mental health, gender equality, body shaming, gender based violence and the right to education. She is a strong believer in the importance of mental health and she believes that it is OK to not be OK all the time. She enjoys listening to music and writing blogs in her free time. She is very connected to herself and her emotions and she will forever be that girl who gets really excited when the sky is in pretty colors.


Illustration by Emily Whang

Augustine Minimbi

Augustine Tipuka Minimbi is a second-year student at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, volunteering as an announcer for Radio Pasifik, the university radio station. He has also done freelance reporting for the Sunday Bulletin, a Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea-based newspaper. He is an avid bookworm and is passionate about writing poems and short stories, so much so that he is currently writing a short story for an anthology put out by the Australia-based Hibiscus Three literature collective, to be published in February this year.


Illustration by Ard Su

Josefa Babitu

Josefa Babitu is a senior journalism and politics major at the University of the South Pacific. The 21-year-old student journalist aspires to be a communication professional in the future. For the time being, he has written a number of articles for media agencies, both local and overseas. He currently works for CDAC Network as a communication officer based at the Fiji NDMO for the current cyclone season. Apart from focusing on his career, Josefa loves to hang out with his friends, reading and socializing.


Illustration by Natalia Polanco

Kelera Ditaiki

Kelera Ditaiki is a senior studying journalism and politics at the University of the South Pacific. She loves journalism because she always learns something new about the people or places that stories take her to. Ditaiki doesn’t consider herself an outgoing person so she appreciates that journalism brings her out of her comfort zone. In her free time, she enjoys reading and watching mystery documentaries.


Illustration by Emily Whang

Leila Parina

Leila Parina is a final year student at the University of the South Pacific. She majors in sociology and journalism. She is from the coastal part of Papua New Guinea. Parina loves the ocean and the natural environment of the Pacific Islands. She is passionate about climate justice and social justice and tries to get involved with those important causes. She cannot sit through a horror movie but enjoys reading crime fiction and watching mysteries based on true stories.


Paea Halatanu Nawaqatabu
Illustration by Lauren Ibañez

Paea Halatanu Nawaqatabu

Paea Halatanu Nawaqatabu is a biology and chemistry student at the University of the South Pacific. She was born and raised in Suva, Fiji Islands. She also takes intermediate French at Alliance Française de Suva. She is a social networking services supporter for the Embassy of Korea in Fiji. During her spare time, she enjoys enhancing her Japanese and Korean language skills as well as designing Fijian fans. She is free-spirited.


Illustration by Emily Whang

Roselyn Bali

Roselyn Bali is a senior journalism major at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala campus. She writes for the student newspaper Wansolwara and decided to pursue journalism because she is passionate about listening to and sharing people’s stories. She loves traveling, socializing, Polynesian and hula dancing, and watching Korean dramas.


Sheryl Lal
Illustration by Eejoon Choi

Sheryl Lal

Sheryl Lal is a senior at University of the South Pacific pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and management and public administration. She is a proud Indo-Fijian and was inspired to pursue journalism to help other people find their voice. She is also a model and an aspiring actor based in Fiji. Sheryl also loves to collect books and is a fan of old classics including movies and music. She is a strong believer in female empowerment and seeks to be an inspiration to women everywhere.


Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti
Illustration by Lauren Ibañez

Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti

Sera Tikotikoivatu-Sefeti is a journalism student at the University of the South Pacific, a mother of two, and a freelance journalist. Her goal is to create a ripple effect of change within her community by giving them a voice and telling their stories. She is currently a freelance writer for Islands Business Fiji: Pacific Makete and a communications intern at Fusion Hub/ BPO Council of Fiji. She enjoys reading, spending time with her family and is obsessed with Korean dramas.