Upon receipt of an application members of the Technical Advisory Committee carry out a site inspection to assess and ascertain the technical feasibility of the project and present their recommendation(s) to the Board which makes the final decision on its acceptance and implementation.

Depending on the individual area of expertise, committee members also provide professional technical advice on projects as well as overseeing the construction and installation process.

The Committee comprises electrical and mechanical engineers, hydro geologists, marine biologists and representatives from Government’s Mineral Resources and Water Supplies departments.

The Committee Chairman is the Foundation Manager Joel Sahai and others include Dr Atul Raturi, Dr Bill Aalbersberg, Bruce Clay, John Lewis, Marica Kila, Rashmi Rita and Warren Yee. Amar Singh is Secretary.

Members of the Technical Advisory Committee: 

William G.L. (Bill) Aalbersberg

William G.L. (Bill) Aalbersberg gained a PhD from the University of California in 1979 and was a lecturer in Organic Chemistry at the University before coming to Fiji in 1984. He is currently Professor of Natural Products Chemistry and Director of the Institute of Applied Science at the University of the South Pacific.

Over the years Bill has carried out numerous researches and consultancies for several foreign Governments as well as international institutions, in recognition of which he has been bestowed several awards.

Bill is a member of the National Trust Executive Committee, Advisor to the International Foundation of Science and serves on three Editorial Boards of International Journals.

Atul Raturi

Prior to coming to Fiji in 2007, Atul Raturi held positions at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi , University of Nairobi ( Kenya ), PNG University of Technology and is currently a senior lecturer with the University of South Pacific .

He also did a short-term consultancy with SEFP, World Bank and holds a PhD in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi .

His research interests include: Renewable Energy – materials and devices: solar cells, Smart window materials, Biofuels - policy development, e-learning, Renewable Energy and CDM: Capacity building.

Atul is a member of the Technical committee, Fiji Carbon Trading board, International Solar Energy Society (ISES) and the Rotary Club of Suva East.

John Lewis

John Lewis is originally from the United States where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Virginia Tech.  After three years in the Peace Corps in Fiji , he worked for the Mineral Resources Department for five years as a Hydrogeologist locating and drilling for water on Fiji 's smaller islands. 

He moved on to help found Natural Waters of Viti where he drilled their first production borehole, contributed in the designing of the factory and was their first Production and Quality Assurance manager.   Currently he is the Director of AquaGeos, a small firm which specializes in water resource issues.

Warren Yee

Graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Canterbury (NZ) in 1986, Warren Yee is Managing Director of Irwin Alsop Pacific Limited, a firm of Building Services Consulting Engineers.

Over the years, he has been involved with numerous construction projects in Fiji and the Pacific financed by international organizations and aid agencies.

Warren has had extensive experience in the design and management of building services and in working as part of multi disciplined consulting teams.