Elias Kanaris
Elias Kanaris is a globally respected leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and executive advisor dedicated to developing values-driven leaders across government, business, faith, and community sectors. With more than 30 years of experience, he has guided organisations through complexity and change, helping senior leaders navigate uncertainty with clarity, cultural intelligence, and moral courage.
A former President of the Global Speakers Federation—representing 6,000 leaders in over 20 countries—Elias brings deep international governance experience and a collaborative, Pacific-aligned leadership ethos. He is the CEO of The Insight & Strategy Group and creator of the Presidential Think Tank’s Leadership Compass, a transformational development course that equips leaders with practical tools for influence, resilience, and high-trust decision-making.
Elias is also the author of Leading From The Stop and a Certified Maxwell Leadership Coach, known for turning lived experience—including his leadership response during the 9/11 shutdown in Gander—into compelling lessons that inspire action.
Elias is honoured to contribute to the Pacific Legacy Leadership Foundation’s mission of strengthening ethical, culturally grounded leadership across the Blue Pacific.
Area of Expertise: Developing values-driven leaders across government, business, faith, and community sectors.
Meet More of Our Dedicated Team Members
Joveci hails from Cuvu Village in the beautiful province of Nadroga/Navosa from the beautiful islands of Fiji. He is an aspiring entrepreneur with a vision to grow into a successful venture to fulfill his purpose in serving his family, church and community. When not working, Joveci is mostly in Church helping out in Youth Ministry or traveling to a different country for a mission, fully exercising his faith and fulfilling his calling for mission.
Fononga Vainga Mangisi‑Mafileo is a Pacificleadership expert and Senior Advisor on Ocean Governance with nearly 20 yearsof national and regional experience. She has been at the forefront of Tonga’socean governance reforms, including drafting the Tonga National Ocean Policy andguiding the passage of the Ocean Management Act 2025, which establishesenduring governance arrangements, statutory institutions, Marine SpatialPlanning, and mechanisms for sustainable financing. These reforms provide areplicable model for integrated governance and long‑term resource stewardship.
Mereseini Tuivuniwai is Communications specialist and has served extensively in the financial inclusion and development sectors, providing strategic communication consultancy and advisory in the Pacific region and beyond. Her expertise also includes content creation, project management and stakeholder mobilization. Mereseini is from Fiji is married with 7 kids and a grandson. She is currently engaged with Alliance for Financial Inclusion as the Regional Manager Pacific working closely with central banks in the Pacific specifically on financial inclusion initiatives.
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We welcome individuals who want to uplift communities and contribute to meaningful leadership work. Join our team and help shape a brighter future for the Pacific.
