Dr. Mere Motari-Muramura Sovick
Executive Direcror
Dr. Mere Sovick currently wears two Executive Director hats: as the Founder and Executive Director of Melanesian Women Today (MWT) and as the Interim Executive Director of Pacific Peoples’ Partnership (PPP), Canada’s only non-profit organization and registered charity dedicated to working in partnership with South Pacific Islanders and Indigenous Peoples to support empowered, thriving communities.
In addition to her roles with MWT and PPP, Mere is the creator and host of the acclaimed podcast Coming to the Mat, which shares inspiring stories of courageous women from across the South Pacific on topics such as leadership, entrepreneurship, health, education, climate change action, and social change. Beyond her professional commitments, she actively mentors high school, undergraduate, and graduate students from the U.S. and the Pacific, helping them cultivate leadership, business, and research skills.
Since founding MWT in 2014, Mere has transformed the organization into a dynamic force for change, now registered in both Seattle, Washington, USA, and Port Vila, Vanuatu, with chapters across the Melanesian region, including Fiji, PNG, the Solomon Islands, and Kanaky New Caledonia. She is the first ni-Vanuatu woman to earn a doctorate in the United States of America and one of the few women scholars with a doctorate in Vanuatu.
Mere’s journey is a testament to resilience and determination. Growing up in Lavatu, a small village on Pentecost Island in northern Vanuatu, she navigated a path that took her from Port Vila to boarding school in New Zealand and a Māori Marae, before embarking on a career as a journalist, Peace Corps Vanuatu language trainer, and ultimately, a U.S. student. Her doctoral dissertation, Strategies Female Small Business Owners Use to Succeed in Business, was published in 2017, reflecting her commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs.
In addition to her leadership roles, Mere is also a writer, using her platform to advocate for the empowerment of women and communities across the Pacific. Recognized for her powerhouse leadership, strategic thinking, and big-picture vision, Dr. Sovick’s ability to bridge diverse cultural perspectives fuels her passion for creating tangible, lasting impacts in the lives of women, girls, and children. With over a decade of experience in organizational leadership, writing, and academic research, Mere continues to inspire and drive meaningful change through her dedication and advocacy.