Tekau FRERE

Tekau Frere, a French Polynesian consultant, serves as the coordinator of the Marine Protected Areas working group of the High Seas Alliance, a network of over 70 international non governmental organizations (NGOs) and the IUCN. Her career includes advisory roles with the French Polynesian government, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) delegations in multilateral processes, and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General and Pacific Ocean Commissioner, with a particular focus on climate change, ocean governance, sustainable development, biodiversity, and plastic pollution. She has engaged in the BBNJ process since 2013 coordinating Pacific regional experts, providing advice to Pacific SIDS, developing the Pacific ratification support program, as well as supporting the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in preparations for BBNJ implementation and in the negotiations for an international treaty to end Plastic pollution. .
A 2023 Asia Pacific Obama Leader, Tekau holds a BA in Political Science from UCLA, and a Master’s of International Affairs from Columbia University.