Female Power Meets Green Power in Fiji

An all-female team of 19 engineers and technicians installed solar panels and SimpliPHI 6.6 batteries at Ratu Naivalu Memorial School on Fiji’s remote Waya Island, ensuring 24/7 electricity for teachers and students. The project, completed over seven days, was coordinated by the Australian-based It’s Time Foundation (ITF) and supported by Briggs & Stratton, which provided discounted batteries. The initiative included 10 engineering students from the University of the South Pacific and nine solar technicians from Fiji-based businesses. Their goal was to introduce women to underrepresented technical careers while addressing energy poverty in remote Pacific schools. ITF, which has partnered with Briggs & Stratton for seven years, aims to improve education outcomes and reduce carbon emissions by delivering renewable power solutions. The project also connected students to industry events, including a Women’s Leadership Workshop and the Sustainable Energy Industry Association of the Pacific Islands (SEAPI) conference. Sequoya Cross, VP of energy storage at Briggs & Stratton Energy Solutions, emphasized the importance of education and outreach in underserved regions. She highlighted the need to encourage women in renewable energy, citing the project’s impact on energy access and community stability. The installation marks the first all-female team deployed by ITF, reinforcing its mission to increase women’s representation in technical fields. Participants expressed pride in shaping lives and advancing renewable energy solutions across the Pacific.