From a Ripple to a Wave is a new Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) series that highlights Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders (RPIL) alumni. Join us online on April 10 at 3:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time for the first installment of the series, which will feature RPIL Generation 1 alumni, Yuambari Haihuie, Dannicah Chan, Sally Rimon, and Lindsey Laupola.

To find out what time this session will take place in your time zone, click here to convert.

Yuambari Haihuie
Deputy Director, Transparency International Papua New Guinea

Yuambari Haihuie, is a Papua New Guinean who has worked at Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) since 2014 and is currently Deputy Director – Partnerships & Policy. Yuambari leads research and advocacy at TIPNG, the country’s pre-eminent civil society organization combatting corruption. Yuambari graduated in 2012 with a BSc. (Hons) Computer Science degree from Queen Mary University of London, in the United Kingdom, and in 2023 was an inaugural Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders (RPIL) Fellow with the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii. As a subject-matter expert on good governance in his country, Yuambari has authored reports on Papua New Guinea’s anti-corruption obligations, national integrity system, right to information processes, and electoral reforms. He describes himself a ‘what-you-know’ person doing ‘who-you-know’ work.

Dannicah Chan
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Dannicah Chan is a daughter of Samoa from the villages of Lefaga, Saleimoa, Tuana’i and Moata’a. Currently working at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Headquarters in Apia as the Project Associate to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 Regional Invasive Species Project and has been serving the Pacific region through the Secretariat in various roles since 2017. Dannicah is an executive founding member of Apia Hub for the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Commerce dual majors in Accounting and Business Information Systems from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and in 2023, was an inaugural PIDP Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders (RPIL) Fellow. Outside of her work life, she is either holding a camera to capture moments as a hobbyist photographer or spending quality time with her three years old god-daughter, Dorothea.

Sally Rimon
Disaster Risk Reduction Officer, Office of te Beretitenti (President)

Sally Rimon hails from the Republic of Kiribati and is currently employed at the Office of te Beretitenti (President) as a Disaster Risk Reduction Officer and also one of the first RPIL Fellows from the Republic of Kiribati. As a Kiribati national, Sally has a persistent interest and passion to assist and support the Kiribati Government in advancing its national development and sustainable development goals for the wellbeing of I-Kiribati. Realizing this passion and interest, she pursued her undergraduate and postgraduate degree in marine science and marine management and upon her return after pursuing my studies; she chose to work at the Kiribati Government in the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change space, as a Disaster Risk Reduction Officer. Given her passion in these fields, Sally wants to confront these pressing issues and address the potential underlying risks that pose threat to sustainable livelihood and development of her people and country. She wants to be sure that these underlying risks are translated in the context of her country that is well understood by her people in order to strengthen resilience of her people and country to these risks.

Lindsey Laupola
Public Education Research & Development Specialist, Office of the Governor, American Samoa

Lindsey Laupola, a daughter of American Samoa, serves as a Public Education Research & Development Specialist in the  Office of the Governor. Her focus is centered on American Samoa's Political Status, Constitutional Review, & Federal Relations. Lindsey has a bachelor's in Criminal Justice Administration and is currently pursuing a Master's in Legal Studies. In 2023 she became a part of the inaugural cohort for the Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders Fellowship under the East West Center. Her passions include regional collaboration which recognizes that true progress is not measured in isolation but in the unity of our Pacific families standing side by side for a brighter more inclusive future. 

The views expressed are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the Pacific Islands Development Program or the East-West Center.

From a Ripple to a Wave is a new Pacific Islands Development Program (PIDP) series that highlights Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders (RPIL) alumni. Join us online on April 10 at 3:00 PM Hawaii Standard Time for the first installment of the series, which will feature RPIL Generation 1 alumni, Yuambari Haihuie, Dannicah Chan, Sally Rimon, and Lindsey Laupola.

To find out what time this session will take place in your time zone, click here to convert.

Yuambari Haihuie
Deputy Director, Transparency International Papua New Guinea

Yuambari Haihuie, is a Papua New Guinean who has worked at Transparency International Papua New Guinea (TIPNG) since 2014 and is currently Deputy Director – Partnerships & Policy. Yuambari leads research and advocacy at TIPNG, the country’s pre-eminent civil society organization combatting corruption. Yuambari graduated in 2012 with a BSc. (Hons) Computer Science degree from Queen Mary University of London, in the United Kingdom, and in 2023 was an inaugural Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders (RPIL) Fellow with the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii. As a subject-matter expert on good governance in his country, Yuambari has authored reports on Papua New Guinea’s anti-corruption obligations, national integrity system, right to information processes, and electoral reforms. He describes himself a ‘what-you-know’ person doing ‘who-you-know’ work.

Dannicah Chan
Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Dannicah Chan is a daughter of Samoa from the villages of Lefaga, Saleimoa, Tuana’i and Moata’a. Currently working at the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Headquarters in Apia as the Project Associate to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) 6 Regional Invasive Species Project and has been serving the Pacific region through the Secretariat in various roles since 2017. Dannicah is an executive founding member of Apia Hub for the Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Graduated in 2017 with a Bachelor of Commerce dual majors in Accounting and Business Information Systems from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and in 2023, was an inaugural PIDP Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders (RPIL) Fellow. Outside of her work life, she is either holding a camera to capture moments as a hobbyist photographer or spending quality time with her three years old god-daughter, Dorothea.

Sally Rimon
Disaster Risk Reduction Officer, Office of te Beretitenti (President)

Sally Rimon hails from the Republic of Kiribati and is currently employed at the Office of te Beretitenti (President) as a Disaster Risk Reduction Officer and also one of the first RPIL Fellows from the Republic of Kiribati. As a Kiribati national, Sally has a persistent interest and passion to assist and support the Kiribati Government in advancing its national development and sustainable development goals for the wellbeing of I-Kiribati. Realizing this passion and interest, she pursued her undergraduate and postgraduate degree in marine science and marine management and upon her return after pursuing my studies; she chose to work at the Kiribati Government in the Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change space, as a Disaster Risk Reduction Officer. Given her passion in these fields, Sally wants to confront these pressing issues and address the potential underlying risks that pose threat to sustainable livelihood and development of her people and country. She wants to be sure that these underlying risks are translated in the context of her country that is well understood by her people in order to strengthen resilience of her people and country to these risks.

Lindsey Laupola
Public Education Research & Development Specialist, Office of the Governor, American Samoa

Lindsey Laupola, a daughter of American Samoa, serves as a Public Education Research & Development Specialist in the  Office of the Governor. Her focus is centered on American Samoa's Political Status, Constitutional Review, & Federal Relations. Lindsey has a bachelor's in Criminal Justice Administration and is currently pursuing a Master's in Legal Studies. In 2023 she became a part of the inaugural cohort for the Resilient Pacific Islands Leaders Fellowship under the East West Center. Her passions include regional collaboration which recognizes that true progress is not measured in isolation but in the unity of our Pacific families standing side by side for a brighter more inclusive future. 

The views expressed are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of the Pacific Islands Development Program or the East-West Center.