Tahitian-born Leopold Temoana Biardeau is an economist and researcher at Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research in Auckland. He holds a PhD from UC Berkeley and is also a graduate of the Paris Institute of Political Studies and the National University of Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and lectured at the University of French Polynesia. Mr Biardeau is also a non-permanent member of the French Polynesia Competition Authority and contributes to the French Polynesia Climate Plan.