Pacific Change Makers

• 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 relationship. Reflecting on PNG’s half-century of independence this year, Cathy also shares her vision of what the next 50 years might look like in terms of development and women.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  --------  

  14:51
• 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 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 sat down with Dr Collins in Canberra to reflect on her five-year term as High Commissioner to Australia — a post she considers one of New Zealand’s most important. As Dame Annette notes, “Australia and New Zealand — there are no two closer countries on the planet.” They discussed Dame Anette’s priorities for the Trans-Tasman arrangement, building the family-like relationship with Australia, the Australia–Tuvalu deal, New Zealand’s unique and strong relationship with the Pacific, and her country’s relationship with China amid growing tensions in the region. In a wide-ranging discussion, they also touched on the Lowy Institute Poll, the war in Ukraine, New Zealand movies, cheese pies, and sport. Dame Annette King commenced duties as the New Zealand High Commissioner to Australia in December 2018 and concluded her assignment in December 2023. Prior to taking up this position, she served as Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011 and from 2014 until 2017. She was a Senior Cabinet Minister in the Fourth and Fifth Labour Governments of New Zealand and was the MP for the Rongotai electorate in Wellington from 1996 to 2017. Dame Annette is New Zealand’s longest-serving female MP, with 30 years in parliament. Her portfolios included Health, Police, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Employment and States Services. Pacific Change Makers is a podcast from the Lowy Institute: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/ Twitter:@LowyInstitute@DrJessCollins@annettecanberraSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  --------  

  22:31
• 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 international development partners without being overwhelmed by foreign agendas and aligning external assistance with national priorities. In this wide-ranging conversation, Debra Sungi, who is the newly appointed director of the CCDA, as well as one of a handful of women leading government agencies in PNG and the youngest ever at only 33, discusses PNG’s national initiatives and the importance of bringing knowledge to the grass roots level. She also talks about success stories of bilateral cooperation, and dealing with the challenges of climate change and being a young woman in a position of leadership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  --------  

  20:19
• 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 calls since its establishment in 2015, provide a window into the online threats facing the country’s young people — from cyberbullying and exploitation to technology-facilitated gender-based violence.  This episode of the Lowy Institute’s Pacific Change Makers dives deep into the digital realm, taking a look at a rapidly emerging social issue with profound implications for Papua New Guinea’s social cohesion and national security.  In this episode, Mihai Sora, Project Director of the Aus-PNG Network, interviews Kinime Daniel, ChildFund Helpline Manager for 1-Tok Counselling Helpim Line. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  --------  

  13:18
• 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. Anouk draws on over 15 years living in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara and her extensive experience analysing peace, stability and community resilience in the Pacific.    Solomon Islands elections can coincide with political and civil instability as competing power factions jostle for dominance. “Whether democracy itself survives this vote, and also the years after” is a concern for Dr Anouk Ride. This election is particularly significant for the country and the global community. All will be watching to see if the current Prime Minister Sogavare returns and continues to draw closer to China. But more than geopolitics is at stake. The country is facing increasing economic pressures and tensions between the capital and provinces. On 17 April, 50 members of parliament will head to the capital to select the next Prime Minister. Money and personal interests intertwine in the process to select a new national leader. All hope for a peaceful outcome but that is not guaranteed. As Anouk points out there are several flashpoints over the next six months, and any could trigger unrest if not well managed.  Join us as we explore what is shaping the processes and issues in this election, and its implications for security and democracy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  --------  

  24:41

More Arts podcasts

Trending Arts podcasts

About Pacific Change Makers

Pacific Change Makers: Podcasts in Family