BENJAMIN OATASIA is the Program Manager for Pacific Clean Energy Partners and is based in Honiara, Solomon Islands. He has extensive experience with financial management of major programs—including energy infrastructure, sustainable transport infrastructure, transport sector flood recovery, and other technical assistance projects—funded by diverse donors.
As Head of the Project Finance and Administration Team for the ADB-funded Sustainable Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project (STIIP), Benjamin manages project finances for roads and bridge infrastructure development in accordance with ADB guidelines. He previously worked as Project Analyst for the Asian Development Bank, monitoring and documenting progress on Technical Assistance projects for the Solomon Islands Ministry of Finance and Treasury. In addition, he served as an Accounting and Administration Project Consultant for the ADB-funded Transport Sector Flood Recovery Project focused on repairing bridge infrastructure. He also served as Accountant, Administrator and Contract Manager for a wharves infrastructure program under the Domestic Maritime Support Project.
During seven years working with the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA), Benjamin supported the Solomon Islands Ministry of Mines, Energy and Rural Electrification’s utilities infrastructure projects, holding the positions of Management Accountant, Chief Accountant, and Finance Manager. Benjamin also worked for a decade with the Development Bank of Solomon Islands, including as Senior Finance Officer, preparing budgets and forecasts for the bank’s financial lending project portfolio.
Benjamin is Commissioner of Oaths for the Solomon Islands as well as a Board Director of the Solomon Islands Postal Corporation and a member of its Finance Sub-Committee. He has a diploma in Business Management, an MBA in Corporate Finance & Project Management, and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Finance Management and Management & Public Administration from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji.