Based on extensive stakeholder input, plan builds on Center’s historical strengths to foster leadership on regional priorities

HONOLULU (Aug. 25, 2022)—The East-West Center has released a new five-year strategic plan, covering the years 2023 through 2027. Building on the Center’s more than 60-year legacy of fostering people-to-people connections and understanding across Asia, the Pacific, and the US, the plan focuses on five key priorities:

• Developing and equipping leaders
• Convening impactful dialogues
• Partnering with the Pacific Islands
• Fostering environmental solutions
• Supporting good governance

To pursue these priorities, EWC plans to leverage its unique strengths and capabilities, including transformative educational programs, diverse expertise, broad alumni and partner networks, and the Center’s mid-Pacific location and renowned campus.

EWC President Suzanne Vares-Lum said in an August 23 webinar that the plan is based on input from a wide variety of Center stakeholders assessing key needs in the Indo-Pacific region, along with and the Center’s distinctive strengths and capabilities in meeting them. “The East West Center's work in the next five years is built on the conviction that capable, committed and connected leaders make the difference in turbulent times like these,” she said. “The Center's strongest lever of positive impact is convening, developing and equipping more promising and diverse leaders to address critical challenges together.”

Vares-Lum, who is the Center’s first Native Hawaiian president, said that while the strategic priorities span the Indo-Pacific region, it is natural for EWC to give special attention to the Pacific Islands given the institution’s location in Hawai‘i and historic relationships in the region. Through the Pacific Islands Development Program based at the Center and other projects, she said, “our goal is to have an active hub for Pacific Islands expertise in the areas of culture, art, economics, civil society, government, environment, and sustainability. We want to be a platform to amplify Pacific Islands voices, and we want also want to be a bridge between the region and international partners.”

Over the next few months, Vares-Lum said, staff working groups will be developing implementation plans to align EWC programs, budgeting, communications and administrative operations with the strategic framework laid out in the plan.

Watch the video of President Vares-Lum's webinar

Based on extensive stakeholder input, plan builds on Center’s historical strengths to foster leadership on regional priorities

HONOLULU (Aug. 25, 2022)—The East-West Center has released a new five-year strategic plan, covering the years 2023 through 2027. Building on the Center’s more than 60-year legacy of fostering people-to-people connections and understanding across Asia, the Pacific, and the US, the plan focuses on five key priorities:

• Developing and equipping leaders
• Convening impactful dialogues
• Partnering with the Pacific Islands
• Fostering environmental solutions
• Supporting good governance

To pursue these priorities, EWC plans to leverage its unique strengths and capabilities, including transformative educational programs, diverse expertise, broad alumni and partner networks, and the Center’s mid-Pacific location and renowned campus.

EWC President Suzanne Vares-Lum said in an August 23 webinar that the plan is based on input from a wide variety of Center stakeholders assessing key needs in the Indo-Pacific region, along with and the Center’s distinctive strengths and capabilities in meeting them. “The East West Center's work in the next five years is built on the conviction that capable, committed and connected leaders make the difference in turbulent times like these,” she said. “The Center's strongest lever of positive impact is convening, developing and equipping more promising and diverse leaders to address critical challenges together.”

Vares-Lum, who is the Center’s first Native Hawaiian president, said that while the strategic priorities span the Indo-Pacific region, it is natural for EWC to give special attention to the Pacific Islands given the institution’s location in Hawai‘i and historic relationships in the region. Through the Pacific Islands Development Program based at the Center and other projects, she said, “our goal is to have an active hub for Pacific Islands expertise in the areas of culture, art, economics, civil society, government, environment, and sustainability. We want to be a platform to amplify Pacific Islands voices, and we want also want to be a bridge between the region and international partners.”

Over the next few months, Vares-Lum said, staff working groups will be developing implementation plans to align EWC programs, budgeting, communications and administrative operations with the strategic framework laid out in the plan.

Watch the video of President Vares-Lum's webinar