Young Pacific Leaders alumnus Taitusi Dradra presents on the traditional sector and its role in promoting sustainability at the YSEALI Blue Economy Workshop, held in Indonesia and Singapore.
By Michelle Curran
Strategic Communications, Pasifika TV
Protecting the moana – a resource which both connects and sustains people – is at the forefront of all Taitusi Dradra does.
Hailing from Fiji, 29-year-old Taitusi is a Project Assistant for Pacific Blue Foundation, which plays a key part in the conservation efforts of the Beqa-Yanuca Seascape.
The ocean advocate was recently invited to speak as a Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) alumnus at the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Blue Economy Workshop, held in Batam and Singapore, from April 21–25, 2025.
Having taken part in the YPL Tech Camp in Auckland in 2022, Taitusi says he was honoured to attend the YSEALI Workshop focused on empowering youth leaders to drive marine innovation and regional collaboration, where he spoke about the traditional sector and its role in promoting sustainability.
Both the YSEALI and YPL initiatives are funded by the United States Department of State and have the goal of building leadership capabilities and strengthening regional and cross-border partnerships.
“It is important for YPL to be represented at YSEALI to ensure the voices of young Pacific leaders are included in regional conversations on sustainability,” Taitusi says.
“Our unique cultural knowledge, local experiences, and community-based solutions bring valuable perspectives to shared challenges.
“Representation also helps build stronger partnerships between Southeast Asia and the Pacific for lasting impact.”
With both regions facing similar environmental, social and economic issues and concerns, collaboration between Southeast Asia and the Pacific is critical to achieving stability and prosperity in these regions.
The YSEALI and YPL initiatives support the goal of collaboration, by helping young leaders from Asia and the Pacific work better together by giving them a chance to meet, share ideas, and learn from each other, Taitusi says.
“Being part of the YSEALI and YPL programs has strengthened my belief in the power of youth leadership and regional collaboration.
“It’s inspiring to see how young people across Asia and the Pacific are stepping up to solve real-world challenges.
“I’m committed to continuing this work, not just in my community, but also by supporting others in the region because I believe by sharing knowledge, respecting our cultures, and working together, we can build a more sustainable and resilient future for everyone.”
Following the workshop, Taitusi says his main takeaways are the importance of teamwork, clear communication, and listening to different perspectives.
“I was not only there as a speaker to deliver a message, but I also learned from the participants by hearing their perspectives and case studies from their countries.
“I gained practical skills, such as how to plan projects more effectively and how to collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds.
“The experience reminded me that strong leadership requires being open-minded and always willing to learn.”
Taitusi plans to utilise these new learnings and skills in his work, he says.
“Most importantly, I’ll continue creating space for local voices and traditional knowledge, while staying open to learning from others across the region.”
Visit the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative and Young Pacific Leaders website for more information.
