Karena Lyons
EWC Vice President; Director of Research; Director (designate) of the Pacific Islands Development Program
Jake Hamstra
Editor-in-Chief
Jake Hamstra oversees PIDP’s digital and print publications, and is PIDP’s focal point for the relaunch of PIDP’s Pacific Islands Report, a long-trusted source of economic and political analysis for Pacific Leaders. As the East-West Center’s Chief Communications Officer, he directs the Department of Communications and External Relations and leads the coordination of communications and engagement strategy and activities across the Center.
Leena Pritchard-Butler
Regional Co-ordinator
Leena Pritchard-Butler serves as Regional Co-ordinator working on regional governance issues, including Pacific Island Forum Secretariat and CROP compliance matters, PIDP governance, and is the lead for PIDP Standing Committee issues.
Diliaur Tellei
Digital Communications Developer
Diliaur Tellei manages design and development for PIDP’s digital platform and Pacific media outreach, as well as coordinates with the East-West Center’s communications program.
Robin Miller
Assistant to the Director
Robin Miller serves as executive assistant to the Director, coordinating PIDP business and correspondence with member nations.
Affiliated Staff
Ann Hartman
Ann Hartman directs the educational program for Pacific Islands graduate scholarship recipients, in a cooperative relationship with the University of Hawaiʻi, Mānoa, and the East-West Center.
Dr. Mary Hattori
Dr. Mary Hattori manages the United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program for students at the University of Hawaiʻi, and advises on PIDP cultural events and community outreach.
Dr. Victoria Keener
Dr. Victoria Keener serves as principal investigator for the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program. She leads an interdisciplinary team of social and physical scientists with the goal of gathering climate change research and translating it into policy-relevant knowledge for Pacific Island communities at the local, state, and regional levels.
Gretchen Alther
Gretchen Alther directs the North Pacific Women’s Action Program, and co-directs the Asia Pacific Leadership Program, courses that cultivate emerging Pacific leaders, and especially Pacific women leaders, and integrate them into cooperative regional professional networks.
Dr. Nick Barker
Dr. Nicholas Barker is the director of the Pacific Islands Leadership Program, and founding director of the Asia Pacific Leadership Program. His work in PILP focuses on intensive leadership development for Pacific government and community leaders, and the forging of deep professional networks for Pacific governance.
Katie Bartels
Katie Bartels coordinates the State Department sponsored project on Countering Disinformation in Southeast Asia and Oceania, engaging young leaders, journalists and policy influencers.
Dr. Keith Bettinger
Dr. Keith Bettinger specializes in climate change adaptation policy, advising on development and resilience in the Pacific on projects with The United Nations Development Programme and the United States Agency for International Development.
Dr. Laura Brewington
Dr. Laura Brewington designs and conducts collaborative, policy-oriented research using spatial analytics in support of climate change adaptation in the Pacific Islands. She is lead investigator in the Pacific Islands Climate, Health and Migration project, and an investigator on the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program in collaboration with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
Carolyn Eguchi
Carolyn Eguchi is a senior program officer, serving as PIDP’s focal point for organizing and executing conferences, seminars, and the Pacific Islands Council of Leaders.
Derek Ferrar
Derek Ferrar authors articles, coordinates online content, and handles news releases for the East-West Center, and contributes relevant Pacific Islands content to PIDP information products.
Dr. Abby Frazier
Dr. Abby Frazier performs research focused on drought and its impacts on the management of water resources and ecosystems in the Pacific Islands.
Devon Grandy
Devon Grandy assists in the development of digital publications and the web platform.
Zena Grecni
Zena Grecni coordinates regional contributions to the U.S. National Climate Assessment and synthesizes climate information to support Pacific Island adaptation initiatives as a part of the Pacific Islands Regional Climate Assessment.
Jill Hamasaki
Jill Hamasaki serves as liaison and advisor, on behalf of the East-West Center President, in planning and coordination for PIDP activities and events.
Richard Hornik
Richard Hornik provides economic and political analysis on Pacific issues for PIDP publications and advises on the Pacific Islands Report.
Shayne Hasegawa
Shayne Hasegawa assists in the development of digital communications and the web platform.
Dr. Ryan Longman
Dr. Ryan Longman’s research on Pacific Islands issues focuses on climate mapping and water resources, as well as the development of policy-oriented training courses on climate change adaptation.
Oscar Kightley
Oscar Kightley contributes to PIDP cultural events and discussions, and serves as Artist-in-Residence through the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency.
Scott Kroeker
Scott Kroeker leads professional development programs for Pacific Islands journalists and tourism professionals, and organizes the Pacific Island Countries-United States Security Dialogue. He is also the former Acting Director of PIDP, and former managing editor of the Pacific Islands Report.
Justina Leach
Justina Leach serves as program assistant, assisting on administration and events in support of the Director and the administrative officer.
Mark McMahon
Mark McMahon manages the maintenance and technical advice for the PIDP website.
Dr. Wendy Miles
Dr. Wendy Miles leads the evaluation research of the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program, and supports activities that build adaptive capacity to climate variability and change in Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands.
Sidney Westley
Sidney Westley writes and edits publications for the media and general audiences based on East-West Center research. She provides material for the Pacific Islands Development Program and East-West Center websites.
Dr. Supin Wongbusarakum
Dr. Supin Wongbusarakum uses an ecosystem approach and bio-cultural disciplines to collaborate with Pacific communities, resource stewards, and multi-disciplinary scientists and partners, in conservation and natural resource management for Pacific Islands.