Lekima Copeland is a doctoral student at The University of the South Pacific. In Fiji, he is conducting studies on endemic riverine fish. He is a recipient of the Pacific Scholarship for Excellence in Research and Innovation (PSERI). He has over ten years of experience working on various development and conservation projects in Fiji and the South Pacific for various stakeholders and clients, including government departments, the private sector, international NGOs, statutory bodies, and development banks. As a result, he has amassed an extensive network of local and international collaborators.