Meet the Good Return Board: Getting to Know Leata Alaimoana-Roberts

Good Return’s Board provides strategic oversight to Good Return’s work across the Asia-Pacific, bringing together expertise and professional experience from global and diverse sectors. Today, we take the opportunity to get to know one of our fantastic Non-Executive Directors, Leata Alaimoana-Roberts. 

Leata is the Impact Investment Manager with Pacific Trade Invest Australia, an agency that promotes trade, investment, tourism and labour mobility in the Pacific. She has previously held various trade and industry roles in the Pacific and in Australia. Leata maintains a close connection with her Samoan heritage and the wider Pacific community.

Can you please tell us a bit about where you are from/your cultural background?

Whilst I am Australian with Samoan heritage, I was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand. Because of this I have experienced a diverse and multicultural environment my whole life.  At heart, Samoa’s cultural values are respect, family, faith and service to others. 

Can you tell us about your previous roles/employment?

I started my career at Queensland Government as an intern in the Department of State Development driving economic development and smart strategies. I eventually worked my way up to lead the aviation and aerospace investment attraction and industry development team. After 11 years, I was blessed to get the opportunity to apply my skills in Samoa as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) under AusAid, providing aviation policy support and capacity building for the Samoan Government. This role led to other aid development project opportunities across economic development, tourism, aviation and trade investment in the Pacific Islands and this further grew my passion for the region, impact and making a positive difference in people's lives. In 2018 I joined Pacific Trade Invest Australia as the Impact Investment Manager helping facilitate investments into the Pacific. In addition to the above I am also actively involved with community volunteer projects such as soup kitchens, senior citizen support programs, translating and interpreting services.

Why did you join Good Return?

I believe my values align well with that of Good Return’s values, specifically making a positive difference, empowering women, alleviating poverty and  service to others. Women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion for all is at the heart of Good Return’s programs across the Asia-Pacific through their Impact Investment Fund, financial literacy program (CAFE) and microloan program.

Can you tell us a bit about your Board Role at Good Return?

As a non executive director, my role is to help advise and inform the board through my lens and experience in impact investing, the Pacific Islands and gender focus.

What project/work as a Board member at Good Return are you most proud of so far?

I am most proud of the financial inclusion in the Solomon Islands and the positive difference it has made in the lives of the women. The CAFÉ initiative uses tools that help behavioural change and enables women to access financial literacy skills and knowledge that helps their overall financial well being. The women then go on to share this knowledge and skills back to their villages creating greater impact and collaborations. I am very proud of the role Good Return has played in this program working together with in-country partners to deliver positive impact. 

In your spare time (if any!) what do you like to do? (Describe your perfect day off?)

My perfect day off would start with a sleep in, brunch at my favourite local café then farmers market with an afternoon spending time with family or my friends. I also enjoy doing walks around Sydney and listening to live music.