Pacific leadership: Tonga police women's conference and Fiji conservation efforts

The Tonga Police Women’s Advisory Network (TPWAN) opened its 2026 Annual Conference at the Tonga Police Headquarters. Under the theme ‘Organisational Leadership and Future Proofing the Tonga Police Women’s Advisory Network,’ the event focuses on strengthening women’s leadership and opportunities within the force. Women currently comprise nearly 40 per cent of the Tonga Police workforce.

The conference included participation from Tonga Police Commissioner Geoff Turner, Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Lesa Gale, and representatives from the Tonga-Australia Policing Partnership and the Tonga New Zealand Policing Programme. Commissioner Turner emphasized that women are helping to define the future of the service.

In Fiji, community representatives, including women and youth, are engaging in regional Pacific platforms to share conservation experiences. Supported by the UNDP Small Grants Programme, groups like the Nadogo District Development Committee are working to strengthen natural resource management. These efforts aim to protect food security, livelihoods, and coastal environments from climate change impacts through regional knowledge exchange.