Young Pacific Leaders – Auckland Workshop 2026 Highlights

Catch a glimpse into key moments at the Young Pacific Leaders Navigating the Digital Landscape Workshop, supported by the US Department of State and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited. Held in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand from March 10–13, 2026, the workshop brought together 30 emerging leaders from 20 Pacific countries for four days focused on truth, transparency and technology. Across the program, the cohort unpacked how Pacific leaders can confront misinformation, engage with emerging technologies, and build a culture of transparency — while sharing their own stories, cultures, and vision for a digitally resilient Pacific. The cohort included: → Wallace Aroita (Cook Islands) → Julie Cooper (Niue) → Asia Camacho Hilario (CNMI) → Camo Diaz Egurrola (Guåhan) → Absalom Edwards (Marshall Islands) → Clarriann Futai (Solomon Islands) → Gina Ishmael (Vanuatu) → Kreetika Kumar (Fiji) → Gabby Langkilde (American Samoa) → Jasmine Leota (Aotearoa New Zealand) → Tony Leota (Samoa) → Pita Loloma (Fiji) → Magic Lus (Australia) → Don Maifala (American Samoa) → Lincy Marino (Palau) → Michaela Montoya Gatdula (CNMI) → Ondine Moyatea-Ferdnandez (New Caledonia) → Dr Lavau Nalu (PNG) → Jay Nasilasila (Fiji) → Chelsea Pedro (Palau) → Rain Sancher (FSM) → Antonnia Singut (PNG) → Penina Sua-loa (Samoa) → Maria Tanner (Cook Islands) → Tahnee Tchen (French Polynesia) → Esther Tetava (Cook Islands) → Pohaikealoha Worley (Hawai'i) → Gitty Yee (Tuvalu) → Kanoelani Toshida (Hawai'i) For more information: state.gov/young-pacific-leaders Credits: Video – Amazing DRONE FOOTAGE of Auckland City Author – Adventurous Souls Link –    • Amazing DRONE FOOTAGE of Auckland City   Photography throughout from Gitty Yee, one of the attending YPL. #youngpacificleaders #departmentofstate #leadership #pacificislands #digitalliteracy