Roi is of I-Kiribati and European descent. She is passionate about development and human rights issues in the Pacific region. After completing a BA (Hons) in Geography and Politics at the University of Otago, Roi spent two years volunteering with local NGO's in Tarawa, Kiribati. Influenced by her time volunteering she is now completing a Master's of Development Studies at the University of Auckland, looking into grassroots organisations as drivers of change in Kiribati. She is a strong advocate for centring indigenous Pacific women voices in development.