Board
Dominic de Moura McCarthy is the President and Founder of the Pacific-Australia Youth Association Inc., and an international education and youth leadership professional based in Cairns, Queensland, originally from Mackay. He is also the Founding Director of the Global Institute for Leadership and an alumnus of the Australia–Papua New Guinea Emerging Leaders Dialogue and the Young Pacific Leaders Program.
A New Colombo Plan Scholar and Fellow, Dominic undertook mobility experiences in New Caledonia and French Polynesia, strengthening his engagement across the Pacific region. He has participated in international policy dialogues and leadership initiatives with organisations including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United States Department of State and the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO).
Through PAYA, Dominic has led and supported youth leadership, entrepreneurship and regional engagement initiatives across more than 12 Pacific Island countries. In Papua New Guinea, this has included delivering the PNG Regional Youth Summit 2025 and supporting the Highlands Youth Summit 2023 in Goroka as an Advisor with PNG Rural Development Inc.. Across the wider Pacific, he has directed and led PAYA’s flagship annual Youth Leadership Summit in New Caledonia, Tonga, Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tahiti.
He speaks English, French and Portuguese and is currently learning Tok Pisin.
Non-Executive Directors
Dominic de Moura McCarthy - President and Chair
Gladys Bartlett - Vice President and Deputy Chair
Gladys Bartlett (née Habu) is a Registered Pharmacist and passionate advocate from the Solomon Islands who focuses on health, climate change, and youth empowerment. She has represented Pacific youth regionally and internationally, participating in global forums such as COP26 in Glasgow (2021), the UN Oceans Conference in Lisbon (2022), and serving as a keynote speaker at the 7th Global NAP Expo in Botswana (2022).
Recognised as a Commonwealth Point of Light awardee by the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2021, Gladys holds a Pharmacy Honours degree from Monash University, Australia. As a Chevening Scholar, she recently attained a Master’s in Clinical Pharmacy, International Practice and Policy with Distinction from University College London.
Gladys began her journey with the Pacific Australia Youth Association as an Ambassador when the program was first established in 2020 and has since been an active volunteer with the association. She also serves as a UNICEF Pacific Ambassador and One Young World Ambassador.
Fiolino Mavaetau - Board Director
Fiolino is a photographer, videographer and creative communicator from Wallis and Futuna, passionate about storytelling, culture and youth leadership in the Pacific.
He currently serves as a Board Director for the 2025–2027 term after previously serving as Treasurer from 2023 to 2025. In 2023, he worked as Local Coordinator and Project Assistant for the Mini TechCamp – Digital Skills, Technology and Sustainability held in Wallis and Futuna through the Young Pacific Leaders initiative, supported by the U.S. Department of State.
Through his photography and media work under Sinemoni, Fiolino uses photo and video to highlight Pacific culture, people and authentic stories from his island community.
He speaks English, French and Wallisian, and has worked in France across different sectors including education, energy and retail. He is particularly interested in communication, cultural promotion and empowering young Pacific Islanders through leadership and creativity.
Jessie Penning - Treasurer
Jessie is the Treasurer of PAYA Inc., having previously served as Chief Financial Officer from 2023-2024.
Enoli Tsitsi - Board Director
Enoli Tsitsi is the Business Development Manager at the Nauru Chamber of Commerce, an NGO dedicated to strengthening and growing the private sector in Nauru. Passionate about empowering young people, Enoli is actively engaged in youth leadership and community development both locally and across the region.
An Australia Awards alumnus, Enoli serves on the Advisory Board of the Australia Awards Nauru Alumni Association, and is also a proud Griffith University alumnus and Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) alumnus. Through these networks, Enoli continues to champion education, leadership, and inclusive growth.
Enoli previously served as PAYA’s Chief Events Officer from 2025-2026.
Beyond professional and community commitments, Enoli is happily married and a proud parent of two children (and counting), finding joy in balancing family life with a passion for building Nauru’s future through business and youth empowerment.
Executive Director
Phillie Julai Marai - Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Phillie Julai Marai, from Papua New Guinea - East New Britain Province, is a passionate advocate for youth and women’s empowerment, leadership development, and nation transformation. A graduate of Divine Word University (2018–2021) with a Bachelor of Arts in PNG Studies and International Relations. Phillie currently serves as the National Coordinator for the Senisim PNG Program under the Papua New Guinea Tribal Foundation. This program, in partnership with the John Maxwell Leadership Foundation, focuses on promoting values-based and servant leadership across PNG. In her role, Phillie coordinates the program with government agencies, civil societies, schools, corporates, implement events, manages logistics, facilitates trainings, and ensures monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability of the Program.
Phillie is also the Operations Director of Romen Grammar School, overseeing the school’s operations from early childhood to primary education, implementing programs, and making strategic decisions to enhance educational outcomes. Her leadership skills were evident early, serving as Head Girl of Kokopo Secondary and representing East New Britain in athletics, winning gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2017 PNG Games.
A committed youth and women’s advocate, Phillie has engaged with multiple leadership programs including The Initiative Project, the Haus Kuk Initiative, PNG Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Program, and Junior Toast Masters Club, where she mentors, trains, and empowers students to become leaders and change-makers. She has represented PNG in regional and international forums, including the Regional Young Leaders Dialogue on Good Governance and Human Rights (Fiji, 2019), UN75 Dialogue (Port Moresby, 2020), APEC Voices of the Future (New Zealand, 2021), and the Young Pacific Leaders Conference (Hawaii, 2022).
As DWU Student Representative Council President (2021), Phillie initiated the DWU Pageant to support student development, established the Late Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare monument, and built platforms for student engagement and leadership across PNG universities. Her advocacy work includes facilitating workshops on women’s rights, good governance, leadership, and civic engagement in her community, empowering hundreds of youths and young women.
In her capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific-Australia Youth Association (PAYA, 2024–present), Phillie has led national and regional leadership programs, entrepreneurship and digital skills workshops, and youth summits in PNG, Australia, Nauru, and Solomon Islands. She has successfully mobilised resources, secured sponsorships, moderated panels, and ensured the operational success of multiple regional initiatives, including PAYA’s first-ever Regional Youth Summit in Port Moresby.
Company Secretary
Walai Tongia - Company Secretary
Walai Tongia was appointed Company Secretary in July 2025, bringing more than 10 years of experience in project coordination, management and program support across Papua New Guinea and Australia. She has held key roles supporting project implementation with organisations including DT Global, Abt Associates, the World Bank and United Nations programs in Papua New Guinea.
Throughout her career, Walai has developed extensive experience in project implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and stakeholder engagement, particularly across infrastructure, energy access and community development initiatives. Her work on DFAT-funded programs has contributed to improving access to clean energy and development opportunities for rural communities in Papua New Guinea, with a strong focus on empowering women and youth.
Walai is also an Australia Awards scholar currently completing an Honours Degree in Built Environment at Queensland University of Technology, specialising in Urban and Regional Planning and Construction. Her academic and professional interests include planning policy, infrastructure and sustainability, and she is passionate about contributing to positive and sustainable development outcomes across the Pacific region and beyond.
Alongside her studies, Walai serves as a student peer leader at QUT, advocating for student engagement and leadership. In her role as Company Secretary, she is committed to advancing inclusive and accessible opportunities for Pacific youth through capacity-building, mentorship and regional leadership development initiatives.