Esther Bates is the Project Manager for the Pacific Green Entrepreneur Network. Esther has technical expertise in supporting entrepreneurs through access to finance and coaching support, in particular in the Pacific, South and Southeast Asia and Africa. Beyond this, her experience spans innovation, results measurement, social performance, project and commercial management in NGOs, private and international organizations.

Prior to joining GGGI, Esther worked with World Vision Australia as the Technical Lead on Financial Inclusion in their Economic Empowerment team for over three years, supporting projects in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Ghana and Laos. Her portfolio included implementing innovative approaches to enable Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) to scale in order to achieve inclusive economic development through improved access to credit, ongoing business coaching and other forms of technical assistance.

Prior to this, Esther spent four years based in Fiji, working with the joint United Nations Development Programme/United Nations Capital Development Fund Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme (PFIP) and Australian microfinance NGO Good Return as their Fiji in-country representative.

Esther holds a Masters degree in Public Administration (International Development), in addition to her Commerce degree and Graduate Certificate of Management. Born in the UK, she has also lived in Malaysia, Singapore, Australia.