Mereoni CamailakebaMereoni Camailakeba 

Fiji National Museum, Fiji

Mereoni Camailakeba will deliver a keynote exploring community engagement through an underwater archaeology lens, drawing on her work with the Fiji Museum. Grounded in Fiji’s identity as an oceanic nation, her presentation highlights the cultural significance of shipwrecks, sacred maritime landscapes and traditional seafaring knowledge in shaping historical understanding and contemporary identity. Emphasising community empowerment, capacity building and alignment with global standards such as the UNESCO 2001 Convention, her keynote positions Fiji as an active contributor to global maritime heritage discourse and presents a model for inclusive, locally grounded and sustainable heritage stewardship.