Biologist, Social Entrepreneur & Founder of Eda Davara Marine Sanctuary
Age: 27
Nationality: Papua New Guinea
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Dikatauna is a biologist and social entrepreneur from Papua New Guinea (PNG). She is passionate about conservation, research and youth empowerment, using these passions to advocate for sustainable development and climate action in her community. She recently completed a Master of Science in Environmental Science at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) in New Zealand, where she deepened her expertise in sustainability and marine ecosystems.
Dikatauna founded the , a youth-led initiative under her small business, , in her home village in Central Province, PNG. The sanctuary serves as a learning and research hub for university students, community engagement and environmental education for children.
Her work focuses on mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reef ecosystems, promoting climate resilience, ocean conservation and sustainable livelihoods — and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals at the grassroots level.