Tuvalu youth leader Eleala Avanitele has been selected to serve on an international task force responsible for planning and delivering the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) ahead of the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.
The appointment places Avanitele among a group of youth representatives tasked with working alongside the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to help shape one of the Commonwealth’s key youth engagement platforms.
According to the Commonwealth Secretariat, Avanitele will support preparations for the forum by contributing to the development of the programme, policy recommendations and logistical arrangements for the event.
The Commonwealth Youth Forum is held alongside CHOGM and provides a platform for young people from across the Commonwealth to discuss priorities affecting youth and present recommendations to heads of government.
Avanitele brings extensive experience in youth leadership, climate advocacy, disaster risk management and community development to the role.
She currently serves as the In-country Coordinator for the Building Safety and Resilience in the Pacific Project Phase II (BSRP II), where she leads national coordination efforts aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and resilience in Tuvalu.
Her work focuses on supporting national initiatives that improve community resilience to natural hazards and climate-related challenges facing the low-lying Pacific island nation.
Before taking up her current position, Avanitele held several leadership and communications roles within government agencies, youth organisations and humanitarian institutions.
These included positions with the Tuvalu National Youth Council, the Tuvalu Climate Change Department and the Tuvalu Red Cross Society.
Her experience extends beyond national institutions to regional youth and climate networks.
She previously served as a board member of the Pacific Youth Council and the Tuvalu Climate Action Network, where she helped advance youth participation in climate action, sustainable development and regional policy discussions.
Throughout her career, Avanitele has represented Tuvalu and the wider Pacific region in international forums and Commonwealth youth initiatives, contributing to discussions on issues ranging from climate resilience and sustainable development to youth empowerment and community engagement.
Her selection to the international task force provides Tuvalu with representation in the planning process for the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum and ensures Pacific perspectives will be included in discussions on youth priorities across the Commonwealth.
The 2026 Commonwealth Youth Forum is expected to bring together young leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the 56-member Commonwealth to discuss key issues affecting youth and to develop recommendations for consideration by Commonwealth leaders during CHOGM.
The forum forms part of the wider Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which will be hosted by Antigua and Barbuda and is expected to attract leaders and delegates from across the Commonwealth.
Avanitele’s appointment highlights the growing role Pacific youth leaders are playing in regional and global policy discussions, particularly on issues such as climate change, disaster resilience and sustainable development, areas that remain critical priorities for Tuvalu and other small island developing states.
