Youth Leadership Summit

Enhancing youth collaboration across the Pacific-Australia region

Every year, we bring together young leaders from across Australia and the Pacific to build their leadership skills, understand our shared challenges and harness their potential for increased youth collaboration.

Learn More

The Pacific-Australia Youth Association Inc. (PAYA) proudly hosts our flagship annual initiative in November each year, the Youth Leadership Summit—a dynamic and immersive event that brings together young leaders from across the Pacific and Australia to foster connection, build capability, and create long-lasting impact. Designed for youth aged 18–35, the Summit is held each year in a different Pacific Island country or territory, amplifying local voices while promoting regional cooperation.

Since its inaugural gathering in Nouméa in 2022 (30 young leaders from 7 Pacific island countries and territories), the Summit has grown into a powerful platform for cross-cultural dialogue, hands-on leadership development, and collaborative problem-solving. Each edition explores a unique thematic focus—such as Skills, Security and Sport in Tonga 2023 (46 young leaders from 10 Pacific island countries and territories) or Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, Governance, Education, Faith, Sport, Health, Culture in Nauru (2024)—allowing delegates to engage deeply with the local context while addressing broader regional challenges.

Throughout the multi-day Summit, participants take part in a wide range of workshops, panel discussions, cultural immersions, and team-based project work. Central to the program is the Group Project Challenge, where delegates co-design real-world solutions aligned with the Summit themes. Winning projects, such as the Teenpreneur Club (Nauru 2024), receive post-Summit implementation support from PAYA, ensuring that the ideas born during the Summit continue to create meaningful change.

At its heart, the Youth Leadership Summit is more than an event—it is a movement. One that celebrates Pacific identity, nurtures emerging leadership, and strengthens youth-led solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable Pacific-Australia region.

Delegate Testimonials

"Being part of PAYA was beyond empowering. I left the summit feeling enabled and reassured that youth all around the pacific are making waves and are active agents of positive and sustainable change.”

Nauru 2024
"My experience attending the Youth Leadership Summit in Nuku'alofa was truly amazing. The summit brought together young, talented leaders from across the Australia-Pacific region, and provided us with an opportunity to connect and share our experiences and ideas."

Nuku’alofa 2023
“I feel extremely grateful to have been a part of PAYA Youth Leadership Summit 2024 and I hope for opportunities to return in the future. It was a great opportunity to connect with the vast cultural knowledge that was present and to empower each other to make a change in our communities.”

Nauru 2024
"Do it! If you want to immerse yourself in the Pacific while engaging with delegates from all over the region then this is the Summit for you!"

Nuku’alofa 2023
"Overall the summit was great, interesting, and very educational. I learned a lot through the summit, which now put me in a better place to expand my reach and do more in the youth development space through my line of work. Big thank you to the PAYA core team for putting up this magnificent event. God bless everyone."

Nuku’alofa 2023
"Join The Youth Leadership Summit. It's a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a unique experience of personal growth, cultural exchange, and community building, while connecting with inspiring young leaders from across the region."

Nouméa 2022
"I had an incredible time during PAYA’s first ever Inaugural Youth Leadership Summit in Noumea. Not only did I get to make amazing connections with likeminded youths from all over the Pacific. I was also grateful for the discussion sessions PAYA organised with SPC and the Province Sud where we get to hear and discuss with fellow high achieving Pacific Islanders."

Nouméa 2022
"Participating in an event of this magnitude has made me aware of the opportunities that exist in our environment in all areas of development. This summit's goal is to bring together young people … to meet and learn about other cultures and territories. I express my gratitude and appreciation to the entire PAYA Summit team."

Nouméa 2022
"Many thanks to all of you! You've motivated me to become a young leader in my community, and to inspire other young people to do the same. At first I didn't know anyone, but I came home with 42 more friends. I'm so grateful. Malo ‘aupito, Ofa atu"

Nuku’alofa 2023
"It was an absolutely amazing experience, I loved every minute of it. All the activities were so well-thought out and I got so much out of it."

Nouméa 2022
"I realized that as an islander, there is a world of connections, experiences and projects right there, waiting to happen. I can't wait to keep exploring!"

Nuku’alofa 2023
"The PAYA conference is wonderful opportunity for those looking to dip their toes into working cross-culturally in the Pacific. I encourage those interested in Pacific work to apply, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people because we need to play a larger role in the Pacific."

Nouméa 2022
"The Youth Leadership Summit held in Nuku'alofa, Tonga in 2023, organized by PAYA, was an incredibly inspiring experience. I had the chance to connect with like-minded individuals from across the Australia-Pacific region and develop my leadership skills in a supportive environment. I am eagerly looking forward to seeing what PAYA has in store for their future events!"

Nuku’alofa 2023
“It was inspiring to see how the local team created such a youthful, engaging and informative summit that covered so many topics relevant to the pacific. The balance of indoor activities/sessions and outdoor activities was good. Although we covered a lot of important things during the sessions I never ended the day feeling drained. Having youth from different disciplines as well made it a more enriching experience to learn what each youth is doing back in their countries.”

Nauru 2024
"The 2022 Summit brought together some of the best and brightest youth leaders from across the Pacific region. In attending, I gained unique insights, learned new skills, and created life-long friendships. I would strongly recommend applying for the Summit in 2023."

Nouméa 2022

Interested in YLS 2025?

Become a PAYA Member!

Youth Leadership Summit

Enhancing youth collaboration across the Pacific-Australia region

Every year, we bring together young leaders from across Australia and the Pacific to build their leadership skills, understand our shared challenges and harness their potential for increased youth collaboration.

Learn More

"Being part of PAYA was beyond empowering. I left the summit feeling enabled and reassured that youth all around the pacific are making waves and are active agents of positive and sustainable change.”

"My experience attending the Youth Leadership Summit in Nuku'alofa was truly amazing. The summit brought together young, talented leaders from across the Australia-Pacific region, and provided us with an opportunity to connect and share our experiences and ideas."

“I feel extremely grateful to have been a part of PAYA Youth Leadership Summit 2024 and I hope for opportunities to return in the future. It was a great opportunity to connect with the vast cultural knowledge that was present and to empower each other to make a change in our communities.”

"Do it! If you want to immerse yourself in the Pacific while engaging with delegates from all over the region then this is the Summit for you!"

"Join The Youth Leadership Summit. It's a great opportunity to immerse yourself in a unique experience of personal growth, cultural exchange, and community building, while connecting with inspiring young leaders from across the region."

"Many thanks to all of you! You've motivated me to become a young leader in my community, and to inspire other young people to do the same. At first I didn't know anyone, but I came home with 42 more friends. I'm so grateful. Malo ‘aupito, Ofa atu"

"It was an absolutely amazing experience, I loved every minute of it. All the activities were so well-thought out and I got so much out of it."

"I realized that as an islander, there is a world of connections, experiences and projects right there, waiting to happen. I can't wait to keep exploring!"

"The PAYA conference is wonderful opportunity for those looking to dip their toes into working cross-culturally in the Pacific. I encourage those interested in Pacific work to apply, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people because we need to play a larger role in the Pacific."

"The 2022 Summit brought together some of the best and brightest youth leaders from across the Pacific region. In attending, I gained unique insights, learned new skills, and created life-long friendships. I would strongly recommend applying for the Summit in 2023."

Interested in YLS 2025?