Jully Makini was born in Gizo in the Western Province, Solomon Islands and is a graduate of the University of the South Pacific. She began writing seriously in 1980 after attending the first
Solomon Islands Women Writers' Workshop in July of that year. She worked for a time with the USP Solomon Islands Centre as an editor, helping to produce the first collection of Solomon Islands womens' writing, Mi Mere.
Ms Makini has published two collections of poems (under the name Jully Sipolo): Civilized Girl and Praying Parents, and is the editor of Roviana Custom Stories Book/Na Buka Vivinei Malivi pa Zinama Roviana. Her poetry ranges widely, over topics such as the pressures of balancing motherhood and family commitments, the dark side of human relationships and rapidly changing societies, and challenges to peace and environmental sustainability. Since 1995, Ms Makini has worked with WWF Solomon Islands in the area of capacity-building.