Ripeka is a Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) scholar in the 2025-2026 cohort with her placement at the Fiji Centre of Disease Control (Fiji CDC) under Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS).

Ripeka holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the Fiji School of Medicine. While serving as a Medical Officer in a semi-rural hospital, she was part of the local health team that responded to outbreaks in several communities.  These experiences piqued her interest in infectious disease epidemiology – prompting her to join the Fiji CDC in 2021. She credits the PAC-EVIPP+ Fellowship for the opportunity to undertake the prestigious MAE.

Ripeka’s areas of interest include communicable disease surveillance, and preparedness for new/re-emerging infections, and outbreak investigation and response.