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.

Dr Francis Bobongie-Harris is an Australian South Sea Islander and Torres Strait Islander with community connections to Mackay, Queensland and Malaita, Solomon Islands. She is a Senior Lecturer and Researcher in the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice at QUT. Her research focuses on Indigenous Education in Australia and the Pacific and Australian South Sea Islander Policy, History and Cultural studies. She specialises in ethnographic, narrative, community – led and participatory research methodologies.

Francis wants to see all girls succeed and reach their full potential and is passionate about girls education both in Australia and across the Pacific.

She is a wife to Eddie and mum to two beautiful girls Lejla and Tallullah. They split their time between Queensland, Australia and Washington DC in the USA.

Jason is a lifelong educator and in his 23 years he has been a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu, taught on the Navajo Reservation, and also in Washington state in the USA. He is passionate about helping young people achieve their goals and live a good life. He believes in the power of education and the hope that new technologies can bring to places that lack basic resources.

Saiya is a 12th grader at Bainbridge High School who is driven by a deep sense of purpose to make a difference in the world. She’s passionate about education, empowering women, and improving access to healthcare, believing that these are essential building blocks for a better future.

Saiya first connected with Melanesian Women Today as a volunteer, inspired by its mission to elevate the voices of women in the Pacific. Today, she serves on the Board as Secretary and is also the Editor-in-Chief of our upcoming online Kalja Magazine, a platform dedicated to sharing stories, culture, and perspectives from across Melanesia.

In addition to her work with Kalja Magazine, Saiya is an active member of our Health Team, where she contributes her time and energy to raising awareness about global health issues. Her passion for healthcare also extends to her involvement with Bainbridge Island Youth Partners In Health, where she collaborates with others to address pressing health challenges.

Through her volunteer work and dedication to storytelling, Saiya is committed to making a meaningful impact. She’s excited to continue growing with Melanesian Women Today and contributing to initiatives that create real change for women and communities in Melanesia.

Originally from Waa Wi Lûû, in the north of Kanaky/New Caledonia, I've always wanted to represent the beauty of my island through my work. My illustrations attempt to highlight the cultures of the Pacific.

 Having completed two Master's thesis on the indigenous Hawaiian people as part of my Master's Research in 2021, I've had the opportunity to study in depth the uniqueness of Oceanian peoples, the same uniqueness that animates my drawings. My first thesis focused on the American and colonial construction of the ‘Hawaiian’ identity and my second thesis explored the feminist voices of indigenous women in 21st century Hawaiian literature.

 I believe in art as a means of raising social awareness, which is why my illustrations often represent my personal commitments, such as preserving the environment and indigenous peoples, as well as the status of women in our societies. I specialise in children's illustration and my aim is to publish and illustrate my own tales inspired by my island.