Leading with Purpose: A New Chapter for World Vision in the Pacific

As World Vision steps into 2026, leadership in the Pacific is being redefined—not by position, but by purpose and bold hope. In a region where climate shocks, economic pressures, and social vulnerabilities intersect, hope becomes the most powerful force for change. It is the spark that transforms uncertainty into opportunity and moves communities from surviving to thriving.

Asuntha Charles begins her chapter as National Director for Solomon Islands and Vanuatu with a vision that is both daring and deeply rooted in local resilience. Her appointment signals a commitment to lead where compassion meets courage, anchored in the belief that hope is not passive; it is action, movement, and transformation.

For Asuntha, leadership is not about arriving with ready-made answers. It is about standing firm when storms rise, listening to the unheard voices, and walking alongside communities as they write their own stories of strength and renewal.

“I have seen hope become a miracle in the hardest places on earth. In the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, my calling remains the same: to turn that hope into bold action so every child, regardless of circumstance, can dream of a future filled with joy and safety,” Asuntha added

Championing Inclusion and Local Leadership

Asuntha’s commitment to Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) was forged in the world’s toughest crises—advocating for displaced families in Bangladesh’s Rohingya Response and standing as the only foreign leader in Afghanistan, negotiating for women’s and children’s rights under the Taliban. These experiences shaped her conviction that inclusion is non-negotiable, even in the most hostile environments. In the Pacific, she brings the same courage and focus—ensuring no one is left behind and empowering local voices to lead solutions. Every program reflects this promise: justice, equality, and locally driven change.

The Pacific stands on the frontline of climate change, a region where rising seas, intensifying cyclones, and unpredictable weather patterns threaten not just livelihoods, but the very future of its children. For them, these risks are not distant; they are daily realities.

As the National Director, Asuntha’s vision is to transform vulnerability into resilience through programs that protect children, strengthen community systems, and deliver climate-smart solutions that last. This vision is rooted in bold collaboration—uniting communities, governments, and global partners to create solutions grounded in local realities and shaped by the voices of those most affected. Guided by eco-spirituality, it embraces the sacred connection between people and nature, inspiring stewardship of land, forests, and oceans as acts of faith and hope for a sustainable future.

This is more than leadership. It is a declaration of bold hope - a belief that when we lead with courage, compassion, and conviction, transformation is not just possible; it is inevitable.

This article was prepared with contributions from World Vision South Asia and Pacific interns: Harvey Josh Fernandez and Mary Rose Caliag, BS Development Communication students from Central Luzon State University, based in the Philippines.