The Development Policy Centre’s annual Pacific Migration Workshop is an important forum for discussion of Pacific migration issues and their economic, social, political, and environmental dimensions.

In past years, the workshop was held at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji, in conjunction with the Pacific Update conference.

2024 Pacific Migration Workshop

In 2024, the workshop was held on 3 September at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University in Canberra.

The theme was Expanding Opportunities for Pacific Migration.

Keynote address

Pacific migration: an update

Professor Stephen Howes, Director, Development Policy Centre, ANU
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Panel 1: Pacific climate (im)mobilities and resilience

Chair: Dr Charlotte Bedford, Research Fellow, Development Policy Centre, ANU
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A typology of climate (im)mobilities
Dr Henrietta McNeill, ANU and Dr Liam Moore, James Cook University

Navigating the nexus: Aotearoa New Zealand’s support for Pacific climate migration and climate crisis resilience
Ms Lauren Bland, PhD candidate, University of Canterbury
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Expanding opportunities for mobility in a warming Pacific world
Dr Christina Newport, University of Auckland
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The Pacific regional framework on climate mobility: Future directions and next steps
Mr Christopher Richter, Regional Migration, Environment and Climate Change Specialist, IOM
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Panel 2: Economic analyses

Chair: Mr Viliame Bovoro, Assistant Director, Pacific Fusion Centre
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Female Micronesian migration to Guam, Hawaii and the U.S. mainland for better opportunities
Dr Michael J Levin, Pacific Web LLC, Honolulu (online)
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The financial lives of Pacific migrants
Ms Estelle Stambolie and Dr Ryan Edwards, Development Policy Centre, ANU
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Profiling Pacific diaspora communities in Australia
Dr Toan Nguyen, Development Policy Centre, ANU
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Fiji’s emigration boom
Ms Huiyuan Liu, Development Policy Centre, ANU
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Panel 3: Social dimensions

Chair: Ms Natasha Turia, Department of Pacific Affairs, ANU
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Reproductive (in)justice and the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme
Ms Lindy Kanan, ANU and Ms Sarai Tafa, True Relationships and Reproductive Health and Vice President, Pacific Islands Council Queensland.
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Safe and secure accommodation solutions for seasonal workers in regional industries
Professor Joseph Cheer, University of Western Sydney, and Dr Sara Niner, Monash University
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The impacts of the labour mobility programs in the nation of Vanuatu
Ms Christina Thyna, Nambawan Family Association, Vanuatu
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Family centred assistance to migrants across the circular labour mobility journey
Mr Dinesh Munasinha, Labour Mobility Programme Manager, IOM
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Panel 4: Recent developments

Chair: Professor Alan Gamlen, Director of The Migration Hub, School of Regulation and Global Governance, ANU
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Enhancing Pacific labour mobility: A pilot for family accompaniment
Dr Anne Stephens, Pacific Labour Facility and Ms Carli Shillito, Assistant Secretary, Pacific Labour Policy and Engagement Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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Lessons from the UK’s new seasonal work scheme and Spain’s recent changes to its seasonal work program
Dr Richard Curtain, Development Policy Centre, ANU
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Farm guest workers: recent developments in U.S. and Canada
Professor Emeritus Philip Martin, University of California, Davis
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