From Global Leadership to Island Home: Meet SBM Commissioner Beverly Stacey Ataera
Kia Orana Tātou Katoatoa,
At the heart of the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) is our Seabed Minerals Commissioner, Mrs Beverly Stacey Ataera — a leader whose story blends international expertise with deep cultural belonging.
Beverly often describes herself as “a child of the Commonwealth — British born, Australian bred, and Cook Islands in love.” Married to a proud Cook Islander, she carries her husband’s family name with pride. Ten years ago, their wedding on Muri Beach initiated a journey that is now complete, as Beverly, her husband, and their daughter have permanently settled in Rarotonga.
For Beverly, this move was not just about lifestyle – it was about belonging. She recalls with emotion the day she received her Cook Islands immigration stamp:
“Every visit before, my husband and daughter carried their Cook Islands stamps — a symbol of identity and belonging. The day I held mine was the day I felt truly part of this place. It’s a feeling I carry with me every single day.”
That sense of belonging now shapes her work as SBM Commissioner of SBMA, where she is committed to ensuring seabed minerals governance is transparent, accountable, and centered on the well-being of our people, culture, and environment.
A Career Built on Leadership and Integrity
Beverly's professional journey spans over 30 years in senior executive and board-level roles across global mining, engineering, and resource organisations. Beginning her career in people and culture, she quickly grew into wider leadership, overseeing governance reforms, strategic planning, project management, and operations in highly regulated and complex industries.
Her career has taken her across continents, working not just in boardrooms but also alongside communities, from engaging with Aboriginal peoples in remote Australia to developing STEM education programmes for young students to mentoring emerging leaders. These experiences have reinforced her belief that governance must be about people as much as process.
“Strong leadership requires more than technical expertise. It’s about vision, respect for culture, and ensuring communities are genuinely central to every decision — not just observers.”
Bringing It Home
Now, as SBMA’s SBM Commissioner, Beverly is determined to apply her international expertise to serve the Cook Islands. She leads with a strong sense of purpose: safeguarding our resources for future generations while ensuring decisions made today uphold the values of transparency, inclusivity, and sustainability.
She often reminds us that every decision in the seabed minerals sector must reflect the long-term interests of “our children and our children’s children.”
A Leader with Heart
What sets Beverly apart is not only her professional credibility but also her heart for people and community.
She and her family have built their home on family land in Rarotonga, actively embracing the Cook Islands way of life. She is deeply grateful for the support of her husband’s family, the warmth of the community, and the chance to contribute to shaping a future that truly reflects Cook Islands identity and aspirations.
As she says, “After nearly two decades of wishing to call this place home, it finally is. And everything I do in this role is for our people and our future.”
Through both her global experience and local commitment, Beverly Stacey Ataera embodies what leadership at SBMA is about: credibility, cultural belonging, and heart.