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Eroni Wavu
Eroni is an Indigenous Pacific Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) practitioner dedicated to advancing community development through culturally grounded, context-specific, and transformative MEL approaches.
His practice is rooted in Pacific ways of knowing, doing, and being, ensuring MEL not only measures change but honours people, relationships, and culture. Eroni’s work centres on creating positive, meaningful, and resilient change by strengthening MEL systems, amplifying local leadership, and modelling ethical, inclusive, and community-led methodologies.
A strong advocate for decolonised and locally led MEL, Eroni has contributed to several regional initiatives. He previously chaired the Pacific Community’s PacMEL Steering Committee and served on the Industry Advisory Committee that co-developed the Pacific Diploma inMEL. He currently co-leads EvalYouth Pacific, is Co-founder and Chair of the FijiMEL Community of Practice and hosts the Tok MEL Pasefika Podcast.
Area of Expertise: Culturally GroundedMEL, Systems Strengthening, Strategic Planning & Program Design, Learning& Adaptive Management, Gender Equality, Disabilities & Social Inclusion.
Favorite Quotes:
(1) “Weshould not be defined by the smallness of our islands, but by the greatness ofour oceans.” - Epeli Hau’ofa
(2) “Icome as one, but I stand as 10,000.” -Maya Angelou
Meet More of Our Dedicated Team Members
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.
I am a daughter of Lomaloma, Vanuabalavu, Lau in Fiji and a proud nau (mother) to my 18-year-old son, Tegumailagi. I describe myself as a social development practitioner with over 25 years of experience in the Pacific working with Pacific Governments and Civil Society Organizations. I have formal post graduate qualifications in sociology and governance from the region’s University of the South Pacific.
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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.
