Viliame Kasanawaqa | LinkedIn, Beyond the Bilibili
Viliame (“Vili”) Kasanawaqa is a Pacific researcher whose PhD research examines the political economy of ocean governance and climate adaptation in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). His work critically engages with structural inequities in global ocean governance, including power asymmetries, technological frontiers, regulatory systems, and contested narratives surrounding deep seabed mining (DSM) in the Pacific.
He is the developer of the Wasa Liwa Nexus, a theoretical framework grounded in Indigenous Pacific epistemology, advancing new understandings of governance, relationality, and justice across local, regional, and global scales. His research centres Indigenous knowledge systems and highlights community-led approaches to climate adaptation, including bamboo-based infrastructure and relational governance systems in Fiji.
Alongside his academic work, Vili brings over two decades of professional experience across Pacific Island countries. He has contributed to regional and global policy initiatives on SIDS, including authorship with ODI Global, and has supported the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through multiple technical assistance roles. This includes coordinating multi-country infrastructure processes in the Pacific.
Selected Publications & Research Outputs
- Kasanawaqa, V., Hatcher, P., & Blesia, J. (2026).
Civil society and the politics of deep sea mining in the Pacific: total ban, moratorium and precautionary pauses.
The Extractive Industries and Society. - Segawa, N., Vunibola, S., & Kasanawaqa, V. (2026).
Unlocking Private Investment for Sustainable Infrastructure in the Pacific Islands: Japan’s JCM and ESG Innovation.
Sustainability (MDPI). - Kasanawaqa, V. (2026).
Deep sea mining is the next geopolitical frontline – and the Pacific is in the crosshairs.
The Conversation, 19 January 2026. - Kasanawaqa, V., Raratabu, A., & Bosenaqali, S. (2026).
Who defines our ocean’s future?
The Fiji Times (Opinion). - Kasanawaqa, V. (2026).
Deep-Sea Mining and Resource Extraction – The Pacific at a Crossroads.
Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (Knowledge Hub). - Kasanawaqa, V. (2026).
Bamboo, Community Practice, and Climate Adaptation in Rural Fiji.
Practitioner article. - Kasanawaqa, V. et al. (2026).
State of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Report – Chapter 4.
ODI Global (RESI Initiative).
Hurley, G., Wilkinson, E., Weaver, J., & Kasanawaqa, V. (2025).
Turning the tide: enhancing ocean equity for Small Island Developing States.
ODI Global (RESI Initiative).
- Kasanawaqa, V., Moncada, S., Vunibola, S., & Raratabu, A. (2025).
The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing: Blue economy and deep-sea mining in Fiji.
Pacific Dynamics / UC Research Repository
- Kasanawaqa, V. (2024). Keep the ocean blue: The opportunity cost of deep-sea mining and compensation for ecosystem services provided by Pacific Small Island Developing States.
ODI Global (SIDS Future Forum / RESI Initiative)
- Kasanawaqa, V., Namuaira, A., & Mara, S. (2023).
Deep-sea mining in Pacific small island developing states: The role of civil society organizations.
In Handbook of Civil Society and Social Movements in Small States (Routledge).
Impact & Approach
Vili’s work bridges research, policy, and practice, contributing to more just, inclusive, and Pacific-led futures in climate adaptation and ocean governance. His interdisciplinary approach connects Indigenous epistemologies with global policy debates and on-the-ground development practice across the Blue Pacific.
