OUR CREW

Selina Neirok Leem is a climate change activist and spoken word performer from the Marshall Islands. She was the youngest speaker at COP21 and has also spoken at COP26, making a passionate plea to world leaders for increased action on addressing climate change.

Leem was born and raised in Majuro, the capital city of the Marshall Islands. At the age of 16, she moved to Germany to finish high school at the UWC Robert Bosch College. She learned about climate change from stories her grandfather told her, who spoke about the impacts of a rising ocean to their home islands. Her concerns over global warming motivated her studies into the science of climate change in school.

Selina just recently became a TED speaker at the 2021 TED countdown summit and is currently the Micronesian Engagement Lead for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative.

Vailahi Vaoese is a talented artist with a lifelong passion for music. Since he was young, Vailahi has been enchanted by the power of song, and has spent years honing his craft.

Although music was always a constant in his life, it wasn't until 2020 that Vailahi decided to take the leap and pursue his dreams as an established artist. With a unique voice and a knack for creating captivating harmonies, Vailahi has quickly made a name for himself in the music industry. He has also had the privilege of sharing the stage with other talented Pacific artists in the music industry.

With a heart full of dedication and a soul that beats to the rhythm of music, Vailahi continues to inspire and captivate fans with his gift. He joins “This Is Our Home” in the hope that through the power of music, he might inspire action to save his homeland: Tuvalu.

”If we save Tuvalu, we save the world.”

A visionary leader and advocate for climate justice, Fenton Lutunatabua, hailing from the FIji Islands, is a multifaceted climate organizer whose work transcends boundaries encompassing photography, literary media, and film. As a facilitator and trainer, he empowers others to become agents of change in their communities.

Lutunatabua, is a renowned climate activist leading by example as a founder of the Pacific Climate Warriors, a movement that has sparked a wave of environmental consciousness across the Pacific and beyond.

In addition to his remarkable activism, Lutunatabua is a trailblazer in the realm of podcasting in the Pacific, using this medium to amplify Pacific voices in the fight against climate change.

Lutunatabua is currently working with 350.org as the Deputy Head of Regions. He is also the Founder of Beyond the Narrative, a creative agency in Fiji, that is dedicated to unlocking the radical imagination of Pacific communities empowering them to shape their own futures.

Willie Fa’apito, a talented Samoan drummer from South Auckland, grew up surrounded by music, thanks to his parents' roles as pastors. This early exposure led him and his siblings to join the church band. After high school, Willie studied music formally, which launched his career in New Zealand’s music scene. His impressive drumming has taken him around the world, performing with top artists.

Willie is honored to be part of the "This Is Our Home" project. Through this initiative, he uses his musical talent and storytelling skills to raise awareness about climate change and the importance of preserving the Pacific islands. His deep connection to his heritage fuels his dedication to this cause. Willie combines his love for music with a strong commitment to making a difference for the Pacific and our planet.

Ponifasio Samoa, born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand, has been immersed in music since 2009, starting during his first year of college where he began recording himself in his bedroom. In 2020, he wrote his first original song, marking the beginning of his journey in creating and releasing his own music.

Ponifasio takes pride in his harmonies and melodies, which are heavily influenced by the music of the Pacific and Africa. His favorite genres include RnB, Afro, and Pop. He has the ability to merge these genres to create a unique sound that he believes truly represents him sonically.

He is excited to contribute his musical expertise and passion to the "This Is Our Home Project," hoping to push the kaupapa to where it needs to be in order to save our islands.

Sione’s ministry is music. From a young adult, his first experience was in his involvement with Grace Worship Oceania, a collaboration of young artists from different denominations spreading the message of Jesus. This platform allowed him to perform at the Auckland World Youth Day, opening for acclaimed Christian artist Matt Maher and front-manning his group at the Global World Youth Day in Panama, South America. His love and passion are heavily rooted in his faith and heritage, with a deep appreciation for gospel and Pacific island music

Outside of music Sione is a CrossFit athlete and coach, and is a Finance and Postgraduate Consultant for the University of Auckland. He serves, past and present for groups like Society of Vincent de Paul, Logos Project, Caritas Aotearoa and the Pacific Climate Warriors.

Now joining the “This is Our Home” project, Sione looks to intertwine his love for music, and his passion for Pasifika community and social justice to bring about change and produce music with a purpose.

“We are the messengers of our reality.”

Siosaia Folau is a renowned music teacher and performing artist with a lifelong dedication to music. Born and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand, Saia has become a well-respected figure in the music industry with a wealth of experience and accomplishments under his belt. Saia's love for music began at an early age, and he honed his skills through years of dedicated practice and performance.

His powerful vocals and dynamic stage presence have earned him a loyal following and a reputation as one of the city's most exciting performers. Saia's musical talent has also taken him around the world, performing in countless festivals, sharing the stage with Adele, wowing audiences in Dubai at Expo2020 on behalf of NZ Trade & Enterprise, and in front of tens of thousands singing the national anthem for international rugby tests and performing for some of the world's most prominent figures, including King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla.

As a music teacher, Saia is passionate about passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of musicians. He has a gift for connecting with his students and helping them to unlock their potential, and he takes pride in seeing his students grow and succeed. Saia joins ‘This Is Our Home’ to inspire the world to take action on the climate crisis, the greatest issue affecting our islands and oceans.

Falling between the cracks of Reggae, RnB, Soul, Gospel, and Pacific Island Music, Junior Soqeta possesses extensive cultural knowledge of music and its evolution. His unique industry perspective reflects his years of academic study and live performance experience. Junior’s diverse experiences allow him to understand various sounds that form the collective whole of culture's ever-changing landscape. By incorporating traditional elements into modern sounds, he has cultivated a fanbase across diverse generations.

Junior also mentors upcoming talent, showing them how to curate songs that capture hearts and minds. His efforts aim to ensure these music styles do not become lost or forgotten in today’s society.

Junior joins This Is Our Home to bring awareness to an issue that threatens the future of the Pacific and our planet By merging his passion for music and climate justice, he has found a powerful way to positively impact the planet. He believes music can reach and inspire a wide audience, spreading awareness about the urgent need for climate action. By mobilizing and partnering with other creatives, Junior aims to amplify the voices of those advocating for environmental protection, driving meaningful change, and creating a better world for future generations.

Falelua Jerry-Moses Roebeck, known as Jay Emz, is a versatile New Zealand-born Samoan artist whose music spans RnB, Island Reggae, and Afro music. Raised in West Auckland, Jay Emz's musical journey began in the Methodist church in Glen Eden, where he honed his vocal skills.

A seasoned session singer, Jay Emz has provided backing vocals for renowned artists such as Stan Walker, Wayno, Fiji, Maoli, Sammy Johnson, Josh Tatofi, and Fia. These collaborations have solidified his reputation as a talented and dependable vocalist.

Beyond singing, Jay Emz has an impressive background in performing arts. He was a core member of the Tatau Dance Group for four years, showcasing his dance abilities and gaining critical acclaim. His passion for the stage extended to musical theatre, where he played the lead role of 'Taga' in 'Pacifica the Musical.' Additionally, he has contributed to the local theatre scene with performances in shows like 'Sau e Siva.'

Jay Emz's journey reflects a rich cultural heritage, artistic versatility, and dedication to his craft. Through his soulful singing and compelling theatrical performances, he continues to inspire and resonate with audiences in New Zealand and across the Pacific.

One of the most recognisable and respected leaders in the climate justice movement, Brianna is an environmental activist and film maker who began campaigning for climate justice since childhood.

Brianna has been leading grassroots community projects pushing for climate justice since learning about the effects of climate change and noticing the subtle changes to her island of Samoa as a child. At age eleven, she became a founding member of the Samoan chapter of the climate organisation 350.org, and the youngest 350.org country coordinator. At sixteen she became the youngest winner of the prestigious Commonwealth Youth Award for her environmental activism. At seventeen, Brianna was chosen by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environmental Programme as their first ever youth ambassador in recognition of her efforts to include young people in the environmental conservation space. Brianna was recently awarded the Global Citizen Prize for her years of advocacy and organising.

Since then, Brianna has taken the Pacific’s story and struggles to the world stage, championing the region’s efforts to secure a liveable planet for future generations. Brianna was the first Treaty Champion from the Pacific and currently sits on the Council of Elders for the Pacific Climate Warriors as the youth representative, where she continues her efforts to bring young Pacific voices into the climate space.

Joe Moeono-Kolio currently leads several projects as part of his work as Chief Advisor (Pacific) for the Global Secretariat of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative. His work has led to a growing coalition of governments and civil society organisations around the world calling for a global mechanism to phase out the use of fossil fuels in order to keep the Paris 1.5 threshold alive.

Joe has worked in both the Government and Civil Society space and is an experienced policy advisor, strategist and climate campaigner who has worked at the nexus of climate change and politics in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Indo-Pacific since 2015.

Joe’s recent work has been centred on using arts and culture to shift narratives on climate action; using traditional knowledge, modern communications mediums and data analytics to tailor climate messaging in a way that people can understand the climate crisis not just at head level, but at heart level as well.

In early 2024, he established the creative arts project “This Is Our Home: Pacific Artists for Climate Justice”, which brought together gifted Pacific artists to join the cause fora fossil fuel free future - for the Pacific and our planet.