Young Pacific Leader Ondine Moyatea’s form of storytelling is shaped by the Pacific environment she comes from.
Young Pacific Leader (YPL) Ondine Moyatea describes her style of storytelling as being shaped by the Pacific environment she comes from, sitting at the intersection of nature, culture and everyday life.
Of mixed Kanak heritage from New Caledonia, Ondine works as a freelance communications specialist focusing on the environment, with the aim of creating stories which encourage Pacific families, schools, and communities to act and protect their land and sea.
“My practice is culture aware, I care about clarity, kindness, and usefulness,” Ondine says.
“I’m happiest when a message feels true to place and sparks a small, real change.”
With a background in biology and journalism, Ondine has worked for environmental organisations in the Pacific, including the Worldwide Fund for Nature, focusing on climate and biodiversity communication and environmental education.
Currently, she collaborates with environmental, agricultural and community initiatives in New Caledonia, using storytelling and communication to gently encourage positive social and environmental change at the local level.
Ondine says she tells stories with her heart, with the intention to help, educate, and speak about the things I deeply care about.
“I’m drawn to stories that are quiet but meaningful, and that create connection rather than spectacle.”
The digital landscape has had a positive impact on Ondine’s storytelling, she says, as she enjoys using visuals to convey emotion, context and meaning.
“Digital platforms allow my work to travel beyond geographic boundaries while encouraging more creative and visual ways of sharing stories,” she adds.
“The challenge is maintaining depth and authenticity in an environment that often values speed and simplification – I try to balance clarity with nuance, and emotion with accuracy.”
Ondine is one of 30 emerging leaders from 20 Pacific countries selected to attend the YPL Navigating the digital landscape workshop, with a focus on truth, transparency and technology, from March 10-13, 2026, in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand.
Hosted by the United States Department of State and Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL), the YPL cohort will take part in the four-day workshop, highlighting the power of Pacific storytelling through digital media.
At the upcoming YPL workshop, Ondine hopes to gain tools that help her inform and engage different types of audiences, while staying true to her values and voice.
“I also want to improve my storytelling skills in a digital world that evolves very quickly…and I’m looking forward to learning in a Pacific-led space and exchanging with other storytellers.”
What Ondine is most excited about, is connecting with people and place.
“Aotearoa holds deep cultural and creative resonance, and I’m excited to experience that firsthand, to listen, learn, and be inspired by other Indigenous perspectives and Pacific connections,” she says.
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)
- 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.