Navigating Pacific Challenges: Reflections from Meg Keen on Geopolitics and Resilience

The Pacific Islands are often depicted as idyllic paradises—pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant cultures. However, beneath these serene images lies a region grappling with complex challenges, from geopolitical shifts to climate change. Dr Meg Keen, a leading expert in Pacific geopolitics, regional security, and resilience, has been working on many of these challenges with Pacific colleagues for years. Throughout her career, Meg has aimed to build deeper regional connections to support sustainable development and strengthen the region’s resilience.

She was recently appointed Director of the Pacific Research Programme (PRP) at The Australian National University (ANU). Her research spans regional security policy, resilience-building, and the geopolitics of the Pacific. Having worked and conducted research in nearly every Pacific Island country, Meg has built strong partnerships with tertiary colleagues, government officials, and regional agencies across the Pacific. In her current role, she is working with colleagues to deepen the PRP’s relationships with Pacific Island tertiary institutions and policymakers, and to enhance the translation of research into evidence-based policy.

Meg explains, “Over decades, ANU has developed strong collaborations with Pacific partners on research that has practical implications, such as election monitoring and service delivery. At the moment, we are excited by new initiatives with Pacific national universities, which will strengthen their own university programmes to advance higher education teaching and research.”

Meg’s dedication to the Pacific Islands runs deep. Her career has included leadership roles at prestigious institutions such as the Lowy Institute, where she directed the Pacific Islands Programme, and ANU’s Pacific Security College, where she was the inaugural Director and led collaborations with regional actors. Her work as a Senior Policy Fellow in the Department of Pacific Affairs and as a Senior Analyst at the Office of National Intelligence has exposed her to a wide range of issues affecting the region.

“The Pacific is a critical geopolitical space,” Meg explains. “It’s not just about political jostling by major powers, but about how the Pacific uses its agency to set the agenda for the region—and about the region itself.” Her recent work leading the Geopolitics in the Pacific project tracked changing trends in the region and engaged Pacific leaders from diverse sectors to reflect on the impacts of geopolitics and on positive ways to assert greater influence in global interactions.

Based on regional consultations, key findings included the need for greater mutual accountability with development partners, to ensure local priorities shape interventions. Other priorities were better access to finance, knowledge, and economic opportunities, and stronger alignment with Pacific policies and goals. Regional information asymmetries, gaps in connectivity, and shortfalls in transparency and civil society support were identified as factors that can undermine the achievement of these ambitions.

There is also a pressing need to strengthen area-based approaches to resilience-building. Meg and her colleagues’ work on disaster response—particularly in urban areas—highlights how more localised approaches can enable collaborative practices that support community leadership, locally tailored social protection mechanisms, and the integration of traditional and scientific responses.

Meg notes, “While there is increasing attention to ‘localisation’ regionally and globally, it can often be manipulated to advance external agendas, tap into unfunded local service delivery, and prioritise areas with pre-existing development relationships. The push by multilateral, regional, and even national agencies to enhance localisation requires ‘downward’ accountability measures to ensure those affected by interventions have greater roles in design, management, and monitoring.”

Meg Keen remains committed to strengthening Pacific-based partnerships, resilience, and localisation processes. Through the PRP’s research, advocacy, and partnerships, she and her colleagues aim to support effective collaborations that elevate Pacific voices and advance regional priorities.

Meg Keen directs the Pacific Research Progam, an independent Pacific-focussed program that supports evidence-based policy making and collaborative partnerships with learning and policy institutions in the Pacific Islands.