ARTI Devi’s journey is defined by cultural grounding, quiet resilience, and a deep commitment to using data for meaningful impact across the Pacific.
Originally from Naselai Village in Nausori, Fiji, Devi was raised in Korociriciri Village, her mother’s home. Growing up alongside her two younger siblings in a close-knit family, she was surrounded by strong cultural values and a clear understanding of the importance of education. She attended Korociriciri Primary School before progressing to Vunimono High School, where her aptitude for mathematics and analytical thinking began to emerge.
At the heart of Devi’s life today is her own young family. She is married to Jone Dagese, and together they are raising their daughter, Deshna. When Deshna was born, they made a conscious decision to purchase a home in a peri-urban area so she could grow up connected to community, culture and extended family life, much like they did.
For Devi, motherhood has strengthened her sense of responsibility – not only to her family, but to the systems and institutions she helps shape. The work she does today is, in many ways, about contributing to a more inclusive and equitable future for the next generation.
Born with spina bifida resulting in lower limb impairment, Devi learnt from an early age to navigate environments that were not always designed with accessibility in mind. Moving through school, community spaces, and later university, required adaptability and determination. These experiences shaped her independence and instilled in her a lasting appreciation for inclusive systems.
Devi completed a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computer Science, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology majoring in Information Systems, and later a Master of Computer Information Systems at The University of the South Pacific (USP).
She recalled walking into examination halls during her undergraduate studies and being asked whether she preferred her allocated seat or a more accessible desk. She was often permitted to enter early so she could settle comfortably before others arrived. At the time, it felt like a small gesture.
Looking back, she recognised it as something much more significant – a quiet but meaningful example of how thoughtful adjustments can ensure equal participation. “Access matters,” she reflected. “Sometimes the smallest adjustments make the greatest difference.”
Those early experiences reinforced her belief that well-designed systems can empower rather than exclude – a principle that now underpins her professional work.
Devi began her professional career as an intern and later worked as a Hardware and Software Support Analyst with Coca-Cola European Partners in Suva. While managing support requests, she started identifying patterns in recurring technical issues and analysing trends. Her initiative and analytical mindset drew the attention of her manager, who offered her a role in a Business Intelligence project.
That opportunity proved pivotal. It was during this project that Devi recognised the strategic value of data and its power in shaping organisational decision-making. While continuing to work in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, she pursued her postgraduate studies, strengthening her technical knowledge alongside practical experience. Her career progression into database development and analytics was therefore built through curiosity, discipline and continuous learning.
She now serves as a Database Officer for the Pacific Women Lead programme, funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), within the Human Rights and Social Development Division at the Pacific Community (SPC).
Her role centres on strengthening data systems and improving the quality, integrity and usability of programme information. In the development sector, data is not simply a reporting requirement; it informs policy direction, funding decisions and programme design. The structure and reliability of data directly influence how effectively initiatives respond to the needs of women and girls across the Pacific.
Devi works to ensure that data is reliable, appropriately disaggregated and ethically managed. She develops and maintains database systems; supports data governance processes and contributes to reporting frameworks that enable evidence-based decision-making. By strengthening the foundations of information management, she helps ensure that programmes are guided by facts rather than assumptions.
One experience stood out as deeply transformative during her professional journey.
While supporting administrative data systems related to gender-based violence services, Devi was reviewing a dataset and correcting a formula used to calculate age. She repeatedly encountered entries showing “0”. Initially assuming a technical error, she investigated further and realised the clients were under one year old.
That moment reshaped her perspective entirely.
She understood that every row in a database represents a real person and a lived experience. Data was no longer abstract information to be structured and analysed; it was human reality requiring care, accuracy and ethical responsibility.
From that point, her work became even more values-driven. She remains firmly committed to confidentiality, responsible data collection and the principle that information must never cause harm. For Devi, ethical data practice is not optional – it is foundational.
Living with a disability has also shaped how she understands performance and contribution in the workplace. Early in her career, she sometimes questioned whether she could meet expectations shaped by long hours or physical presence. Over time, she reframed that thinking.
She recognised that her value was in the quality of her analysis, the strength of her systems and the clarity of her strategic insight.
During her pregnancy, she worked entirely from home, continuing to deliver outcomes through digital platforms. The experience reinforced her belief that productivity is defined by capability and commitment rather than visibility. Supportive colleagues and inclusive organisational cultures have enabled her to thrive, and she now advocates for systems that consider accessibility from the outset rather than as an afterthought.
Arti Devi’s journey reflects the global call of International Women’s Day, which urges collective action to advance equality, justice and opportunity for women and girls worldwide. The United Nations highlights that women currently hold only 64 per cent of the legal rights of men globally, underscoring the continued need to remove systemic barriers and expand access to education, leadership and economic participation.
Her story also reinforces a central message of International Women’s Day – that women belong in decision-making spaces, including science, technology and leadership. As a Pacific woman working in data and technology, Devi represents the importance of diverse voices in shaping solutions to complex social challenges.
She shared that throughout her career, Devi has benefited from mentors who recognised her potential and offered opportunities. In return, she is committed to sharing knowledge openly and supporting others in strengthening their technical skills. She does not believe in withholding expertise. For her, collective strength grows when information and opportunities are shared.
“When we give knowledge, guidance and support,” she said, “we strengthen not only individuals but entire systems.”
Devi encourages young women, particularly those living with disabilities, to see their differences as sources of perspective rather than barriers.
“Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) needs diverse thinkers. It needs Pacific voices. It needs people who understand lived realities,” she emphasised.
Her advice is practical and grounded: build competence, integrity and depth of knowledge. Progress may not always follow a straight path, but consistency and commitment matter. Most importantly, she believes in widening the pathway for others.
“Believe that you belong in these spaces,” she said. “And when you succeed, create opportunities for the next woman to succeed as well.”
Through her work in data systems, her advocacy for ethical practice and her lived example of resilience, Arti Devi demonstrates that inclusive design, informed evidence and shared knowledge are powerful tools for change across the Pacific.
For her, data is not merely information – it is accountability. Education is not merely a qualification – it is empowerment. And inclusion is not merely policy, it is practice.
Her journey is proof that when resilience meets purpose, impact follows.