Bougainville's future: Sustainable sovereignty through development

Bougainville has set 2027 as the deadline to declare independence from Papua New Guinea. But the economic and institutional foundations of sovereignty in the autonomous region remain fragile. In this episode of Pacific Change Makers, the Lowy Institute’s Director of the Pacific Islands Program Miha…

Pacific Change Makers: Cathy Neap on the Australia–PNG relationship

Cathy Neap, Country Manager for the National Rugby League in Papua New Guinea, speaks with Dr Jessica Collins, Project Director of the Australia–Papua New Guinea Network. Cathy shares her experience as a change maker — what drives her, the challenges she faced, and how she views the Australia–PNG …

Lowy Institute Re-Cast: Pacific Change Makers: NZ High Commissioner Dame Annette King on the Pacific, geo

As part of the Lowy Institute Re-Cast series, we are republishing the best podcasts of 2024. In case you missed them the first time around or if you want revisit these engaging conversations, the Re-Cast series has you covered. In this episode of Pacific Change Makers, Research Fellow at the Lowy …

Pacific Change Makers: Addressing climate change in Papua New Guinea

In this episode, Debra Sungi of PNG’s Climate Change and Development Authority speaks with the Lowy Institute’s Oliver Nobetau. Discussions around development in the Pacific consistently reference climate change as a major challenge. Countries such as PNG have to manage the support offered by inte…

Pacific Change Makers: Digital frontiers - Safeguarding PNG’s youth in the cyber age

Papua New Guinea is a nation undergoing rapid digital transformation. With increased connectivity, PNG faces the dual challenge of leveraging digital growth for development while protecting its young netizens.   Initiatives such as ChildFund’s 1-Tok Helpline, which has received more than 70,000 ca…

Pacific Change Makers: Solomon Islands - Democracy in the balance?

In this episode of the Pacific Change Makers, the Director of the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Islands Program, Dr Meg Keen, speaks with Dr Anouk Ride from the Australian National University about the upcoming Solomon Islands’ election and its implications for stability and democracy in the region. Ano…

Pacific Change Makers: Introducing Oliver Nobetau the Lowy Institute’s new FDC Pacific Research Fellow

The Lowy Institute’s latest episode of Pacific Change Makers introduces a fresh and dynamic voice in Pacific affairs – Oliver Nobetau, the new FDC Pacific Fellow from Papua New Guinea. Oliver’s journey is as unique as it is inspiring. Born in Germany to a diplomatic family, with roots in both Boug…

Pacific Change Makers: NZ High Commissioner Dame Annette King on the Pacific, geopolitical competition, and her time serving in Australia

In this episode of Pacific Change Makers, Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Islands Program Dr Jess Collins speaks with Dame Annette King about her role as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Australia. At the end of last year and with just a few weeks left in the role, Dame Annette s…

Pacific Change Makers: Bougainville MP Geraldine Paul on empowering women, building the economy and asserting independence

In this episode of Pacific Change Makers, Director of the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Islands Program Dr Meg Keen speaks with Bougainville MP Geraldine Paul – businesswoman, advocate for women’s empowerment and a female minister in the Bougainville government. Ms Paul believes an independent Bougainv…

Vanuatu MP Gloria Julia King on women, sport, and politics

In this episode of Pacific Change Makers, Dr Jessica Collins speaks with Vanuatu MPGloria Julia King – a mother of four, and a former national football player who is the first woman to be elected to Vanuatu’s parliament in 14 years.  Ms King pays respect to women who trailblazed before her but say…