Riten Gosai Email & Phone Number

Suva, Central, Fiji

A. Assistance with biosecurity operations – providing on-the-ground support to national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) in implementing activities for biosecurity, plant health and safe trade, for example, conveyance, cargo, plant and animal products inspection and clearance, pest and disease surveillance, audits, investigation and emergency responseB. Technical support – providing scientific and technical advice to NPPOs in meeting their biosecurity and SPS needs and… Show more A. Assistance with biosecurity operations – providing on-the-ground support to national plant protection organizations (NPPOs) in implementing activities for biosecurity, plant health and safe trade, for example, conveyance, cargo, plant and animal products inspection and clearance, pest and disease surveillance, audits, investigation and emergency responseB. Technical support – providing scientific and technical advice to NPPOs in meeting their biosecurity and SPS needs and obligationsC. Liaison – corresponding with NPPO focal points for a coordinated approach on biosecurity and SPS matters including pest risk assessments, dealing with non-compliances and capacity buildingD. Programming and coordination – supporting program and project leaders in the development and delivery of biosecurity and SPS work plans; facilitating coordination, implementation and tracking of program/project activitiesE. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) – assisting with MEL components including data analysis and report writingF. Fostering teamwork and collaboration – working with other sections in the ‘Land Resources Division’ and across SPC, in particular the ‘Plant Health’ and ‘Animal Health and Production’ teams in effective planning and implementation of integrated activitiesG. Research and Development (R&D) – carrying out and assisting research activities on biosecurity and phytosanitary issuesH. Communication and information dissemination – leading and assisting with compilation and distribution of information on biosecurity and phytosanitary matters of interest; providing technical reports and timely feedback relating to biosecurity, emerging threats and trade issues Show less

Suva, Fiji

Contributed towards the management and coordination of functions of the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Plant Scientific Team and provided technical advice in all matters relating to Fiji’s plant health. My duties included:A. Provided technical inputs to BAF’s scientific teams, laboratory personnel, operations and field personnelB. Ensured on-going monitoring and surveillance for important pests and helped develop early warning surveillance programs for transboundary and… Show more Contributed towards the management and coordination of functions of the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF) Plant Scientific Team and provided technical advice in all matters relating to Fiji’s plant health. My duties included:A. Provided technical inputs to BAF’s scientific teams, laboratory personnel, operations and field personnelB. Ensured on-going monitoring and surveillance for important pests and helped develop early warning surveillance programs for transboundary and emerging pests (such as brown marmorated stink bug, gypsy moths and fall armyworm); conducted biosecurity produce inspection, surveillance, pest investigation, audits, pest risk assessments and contributed to emergency response planning and actionsC. Coordinated the identification, analysis and recording of diseases and pests of plants and plant products plus provided assistance with all plant pathological work (diagnostics)D. Coordinated field activities and contributed towards the review or development of relevant SOPs and protocols for various biosecurity activities following International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) guidelinesE. Contributed to internal guides, fact sheets, training handouts and other technical reports on plant protection and pests and diseases of economic importanceF. Helped implement biosecurity SPS projects and organised staff training in corporation with national, regional and international agenciesG. Maintained effective communication and good working relationships with internal teams and external stakeholdersH. Represented BAF at local and overseas events; assisted with development of business and work plans including periodic reviews of achievements and identifying improvements Show less

Suva, Fiji

A. Managed all plant pathology related activities including laboratory work for plant disease diagnostics, field disease surveillance, border control and regulatory decision makingB. Conducted literature review/desktop research on plant pests and pathogens (diseases) of interest and formulated commodity inspection and disease identification guides for Biosecurity Officers and Laboratory Technicians, respectivelyC. Wrote lab protocols and SOPs according to quality management… Show more A. Managed all plant pathology related activities including laboratory work for plant disease diagnostics, field disease surveillance, border control and regulatory decision makingB. Conducted literature review/desktop research on plant pests and pathogens (diseases) of interest and formulated commodity inspection and disease identification guides for Biosecurity Officers and Laboratory Technicians, respectivelyC. Wrote lab protocols and SOPs according to quality management system (QMS) guidelines; also drafted guidelines for field or crop survey activitiesD. Organised staff capacity building opportunities and conducted in-house trainingsE. Advised stakeholders on procedures for trade in plants and plant products; audited import and export facilities to ensure they were operating in compliance with requirementsF. Undertook risk assessment activities according to international guidelines, consultations, offshore verifications and report writingG. Contributed to expert group discussions on biosecurity risk mitigation through application of most reasonable treatments or biosecurity measures, also emergency actionsH. Assisted superiors in developing yearly business plan for the Plant Scientific Team and undertaking periodic reviews of this Show less

Nadi Airport, Nadi, Fiji

As below plus maintaining biosecurity database, compiling divisional reports and presentations as well as assisting with strategic and business plans.

Fiji

A. Border control – boarded conveyances (aircrafts and vessels) and reviewed documentation to ensure compliance to biosecurity requirements; performed conveyance inspections and ensured safe disposal of refuse and any biosecurity risk materials on-board; screened cargo manifests to profile for biosecurity risk items and did monitoring of biosecurity regulated articles and goods in transitB. Passenger and mail processing – conducted passenger profiling, screening, baggage x-ray, search… Show more A. Border control – boarded conveyances (aircrafts and vessels) and reviewed documentation to ensure compliance to biosecurity requirements; performed conveyance inspections and ensured safe disposal of refuse and any biosecurity risk materials on-board; screened cargo manifests to profile for biosecurity risk items and did monitoring of biosecurity regulated articles and goods in transitB. Passenger and mail processing – conducted passenger profiling, screening, baggage x-ray, search and clearance; processed international mails (x-ray and physical screening) to detect biosecurity regulated articlesC. Import inspection and risk mitigation – undertook container assessment and supervised discharge and clearance; ensured cargo, pets, plant and animal products compliance to import requirements before inspection and release; also supervised container disinfestation treatments as well as treatments of all other goods of biosecurity concernD. Export inspection – checked produce and plant/animal products for export ensuring compliance to import country requirementsE. Domestic quarantine – undertook clearance of ships, passengers, cargo, vehicles and other biosecurity related goods as per domestic biosecurity requirementsF. Post border – undertook surveillance activities for both endemic and exotic (plant and animal) pests and diseases; ensured observation and effective implementation of biosecurity emergency declarations and undertook emergency response actions as directedG. Enforcement – conducted investigation of non-compliances and undertook subsequent actions according to legislationH. Communications – maintained effective communication with team members and stakeholders; assisted awareness campaigns; ensured timely compilation and submission of reports Show less

Master’S Degree, Tropical Plant Pathology

Activities and Societies: -Sustainability Coordinator - East West Center Participants Association (EWCPA), Secretary - Plant Pathology.

Bachelor Of Agriculture [Bagr], Animal Science

Education record