Krista and Filipa

Krista holds degrees in Marketing, Tourism and Human Resource Management. She also attended Sydney University’s Incubate and Genesis Program and joined Sydney University Business School’s Job Smart Program, working on projects with selected start-up companies. On completion of her studies, Krista would like to support young Solomon Islanders to become entrepreneurs and develop sustainable business practices.

Working in the vocational training industry, Krista has witnessed challenges for young people in the Solomon Islands securing employment. This is a result of high unemployment, high school drop-out rates and limited alternative options for education and employment. Krista hopes to develop accessible opportunities that enable people to be independent and positive contributors in their communities. She sees her participation in the Women’s Leadership Initiative as a great opportunity to develop networks that will support her formal skills and qualifications. 

Filipa is an experienced entrepreneurship and international development consultant. She is passionate about supporting women by harnessing their creative power and passion, helping them to build their own start-ups and solve big challenges.

In her role at Blue Chilli, a tech start-up accelerator that provides training, investment and mentoring to start-ups, Filipa heads up the only venture-backed accelerator program for women-led start-ups in Australia. Currently running its third cohort, SheStarts have supported a number of remarkable women entrepreneurs to build tech start-ups from idea to launch, and inspired many others to do the same by sharing stories of success.

Filipa has worked with founders and start-ups in Guinea Bissau, Berlin, East Timor and Uganda, and is also an Associate Consultant for CESO Development Consultants in Guinea Bissau and a World Economic Forum’s Global Shaper.