From ‘Our Sea of Islands’ to the ‘Blue Pacific Continent’: Stewarding Pacific Regionalism Now and into the Future

Please note that this is a hybrid event. For online attendance please sign up to obtain the Zoom link. Access link will be delivered via email one day prior to the event.

Joel Nilon has spent the last 10 years working on issues that are at the heart of Pacific Regionalism. His presentation will explore the ongoing development and challenges of Pacific regionalism over the past decade, emphasising the significant issues Pacific Island Countries have united around, including climate change, ocean governance, environment and resource management, social inclusion, security, and economic issues. His presentation will also unpack the various shifts in framing and perspective, with a focus on the Blue Pacific Narrative, a strategic vision that grounds Pacific regionalism in the aspirations of Pacific peoples and their unique context, and calls for a more coherent, inclusive and impactful approach to regionalism. His presentation will also discuss why. despite the narrative's endorsement at the highest levels and efforts to integrate its principles across various sectors, the narrative has not yet achieved its full potential as a catalyst for deeper regionalism. Joel's presentation will conclude with recommendations for enhancing Pacific regionalism, focused around the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Review of Regional Architecture, to ensure that the region's development reflects the collective ambitions of its peoples.

Joel Nilon was a Policy Adviser at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat for the past 9 years, during which time he also supported the Office of the Secretary General under Secretary General's Dame Meg Taytlor and Mr Henry Puna. His substantive work during this time focused on driving and advancing the Pacific's strategic policy frameworks - including the Framework for Pacific Regionalism and more recently the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

Photo by Jovi Waqa on Unsplash