Julie Cooper, pictured with her mother Fila Tiala Cooper, is passionate about amplifying Pacific voices.
Passionate about amplifying Pacific voices, Niuean creative director, storyteller and founder of MUSE Retreats & Magazine Julie Cooper says digital technology has allowed her to create a platform for those voices, which are often underrepresented.
The Australian-based founder of Julie Cooper Creative is one of 30 Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) from 20 Pacific nations selected to embark on a journey, highlighting the power of Pacific storytelling through digital media.
From March 10-13, 2026, the United States Department of State and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) will co-host the YPL Navigating the digital landscape workshop, with a focus on truth, transparency and technology in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Julie says her storytelling is grounded in truth, identity, and lived experience.
“I work at the intersection of strategy and soul, helping women and leaders articulate who they are through visual storytelling, photography, and branding that feels honest and embodied,” Julie says.
“My work is intuitive yet intentional, rooted in deep listening and reflecting back what is already present for my clients.”
Digital technology already has a profound impact on Julie’s work, expanding her reach, and allowing Pacific stories to travel across borders, cultures and communities.
“The greatest benefit is accessibility,” she adds.
“Digital technology allows me to build a global community, collaborate across the Pacific, and create platforms for voices that are often underrepresented.
“The challenge is navigating speed and saturation.
“There is pressure to produce quickly, which can dilute authenticity.”
Julie’s approach has been to slow the process, prioritise integrity, and use digital tools as amplifiers of truth rather than noise.
At the March workshop, Julie aims to deepen her understanding of ethical digital storytelling within Pacific contexts, strengthen cross cultural relationships with other YPL and alumni, and gain practical tools to support community led narratives.
“I am particularly interested in how digital platforms can preserve cultural identity while empowering future leaders to tell their stories in their own voice.”
Having grown up in Aotearoa, Julie is looking forward to reconnecting with the people and culture across the Ditch.
“Aotearoa holds deep personal and creative significance for me…I am excited to be immersed in conversations around leadership, storytelling, and belonging.
“I look forward to learning alongside other Pacific leaders and bringing those insights back into my work through Julie Cooper Creative, retreats, and community focused projects.”
Storytelling can take many forms, and the high calibre of successful applicants selected from over 200 candidates for the workshop, have a variety of backgrounds, from media and communications specialists to educators, researchers, health practitioners, digital entrepreneurs and visual artists.
Cohort to attend the March workshop:
- Wallace Aroita (Cook Islands)
- Julie Cooper (Niue)
- Aritika Burennara (Kiribati)
- Asia Camacho Hilario (CNMI)
- Camo Diaz Egurrola (Guåhan)
- Absalom Edwards (Marshall Islands)
- Clarriann Futai (Solomon Islands)
- Gina Ishmael (Vanuatu)
- Kreetika Kumar (Fiji)
- Gabby Langkilde (American Samoa)
- Jasmine Leota (Aotearoa New Zealand)
- Tony Leota (Samoa)
- Pita Loloma (Fiji)
- Magic Lus (Australia)
- Don Maifala (American Samoa)
- Lincy Marino (Palau)
- Michaela Montoya Gatdula (CNMI)
- Ondine Moyatea-Ferdnandez (New Caledonia)
- Dr Lavau Nalu (PNG)
- Jay Nasilasila (Fiji)
- Chelsea Pedro (Palau)
- Rain Sancher (FSM)
- Antonnia Singut (PNG)
- Penina Sua-loa (Samoa)
- Maria Tanner (Cook Islands)
- Tahnee Tchen (French Polynesia
- Esther Tetava (Cook Islands
- Pohaikealoha Worley (Hawai’i)
- Gitty Yee (Tuvalu)
- Kanoelani Toshida (Hawai’i)
Visit the Young Pacific Leaders website for more information about the US Department of State program.