15. Jacinta Fa’alili-Fidow- Pasifika Data Sovereignty

This session introduces attendees to Pacific Data Sovereignty and the unified voice, collective guardianship and advocacy of data and information about Pacific peoples living in New Zealand.
Pacific Data Sovereignty acknowledges that diversity exists across Pacific peoples and cultures. Even so, across the unique differences, there are elements and ties that unify us as the People of the Moana.
Pacific Data Sovereignty is also about understanding our ancestral heritage while upholding the ethos that 'Nothing is about Us - Pacific Peoples - without us - Pacific Peoples.' This ensures that the lineage of Pacific Data paves its paths and linkages back to Pacific ancestors and the generations following to present-day Pacific peoples (Moana Research & Ministry for Pacific Peoples, 2019).
Jacinta Fa’alili-Fidow- Co-Director, Moana Connect
Jacinta has extensive leadership and management experience in health research, public health and Pacific wellbeing in New Zealand. Her work aims to bridge government, academia and Pacific communities to champion authentic positive change for Pacific. As a co-founder of Moana Connect, Jacinta empowers the importance of Pacific world-views, and the prominence of self-determination in all Moana Research work, including evaluation, research and advocacy.
Jacinta has worked for Pacific health provider WestFono, as Manager Pacific Health Research with the Health Research Council, and as Senior Advisor, Pacific for the Public Health Group in the Ministry of Health. After the Ministry of Health, Jacinta was shoulder tapped to manage TAHA Pacific Maternal and Child Health Service at the University of Auckland.
Having completed her Master of Public Health (Honours), Jacinta is undertaking a PhD at the Centre for Longitudinal Studies - Growing Up in New Zealand Study, investigating the concept of Resilience among Pacific families within the cohort.