Island: Erromango

Sarah Anne Nautong Mecartney has spent over two decades demonstrating how regional development work can be led with values, ethics, and a long-term vision.

Today, she serves as the Regional Director for Melanesia at the Pacific Community (SPC), but her story goes far beyond her title. It is a story of resilience, service, and the deep belief that leadership is about listening and lifting others.

A daughter of Erromango who grew up on the island of Efate, Sarah has spent over twenty years building a career that spans public service, science, innovation, and strategic leadership.

From her early days at Central Primary School and Malapoa College to the classrooms of UWC Atlantic in the United Kingdom, the University of London, and the University of Sydney, she has carried with her a strong sense of purpose.

Sarah’s current role at SPC is expansive and dynamic. She is responsible for building and maintaining regional relationships, strengthening the delivery of scientific and technical capabilities across Melanesia, and ensuring staff wellbeing.

It’s a role that demands both vision and empathy, the two traits Sarah has cultivated through years of working in development and regional policy spaces. “I find my work deeply fulfilling, precisely because it changes every day and constantly requires learning and humility. Seeing progress take root in communities, and witnessing the ripple effect of positive change, is what brings me the greatest satisfaction”.

Before joining SPC, Sarah held several leadership and advisory roles. Her portfolio includes work across science, technology, innovation, and development. While the roles may have varied, her focus has remained steady: supporting inclusive, values-led development outcomes and helping to create enabling environments for others.

Not every decision in her career has been easy. One of the toughest moments came when she accepted a position for financial reasons rather than for purpose or alignment. Although it met practical needs at the time, the experience left her feeling disconnected. Looking back, that period served as an important turning point. It reminded her that career choices are not just economic, they are also personal and cultural. “These lessons are what fuel my commitment to work that is rooted in service and grounded in values”, she asserts.

Throughout her life, Sarah has drawn strength from a small circle of constants: family, faith, and friends. These sources of support have helped her navigate both professional pressures and personal trials. She speaks openly about the “heroism pressure” often placed on people in Vanuatu — the expectation that resilience must come effortlessly, all the time.

Sarah’s commitment to service extends beyond her professional duties. She is actively involved in community-led initiatives that reflect the cultural values she holds dear — resilience, collective wellbeing, and the importance of local voices. Rather than labelling this as charity work, she sees it as a natural extension of her identity and responsibilities.

She doesn’t point to a single achievement as her proudest. Instead, she describes her career as a collective of shared wins, which was made possible through collaboration, mentorship, and support networks. Her ability to ask for help, and to recognise the strength in others, has been one of her defining traits.

One of the most important lessons she has learned in her career is to stay open. She likens it to crossing the road: pause, listen, and learn. That philosophy has guided her through tough decisions, organisational changes, and shifting political landscapes. “I believe true leadership is not about holding power, but about preparing others to carry it forward”.

She encourages women to lead with purpose, not perfection, and to see imposter syndrome as a shared experience that can be overcome with the right support. To young women entering leadership or professional spaces, Sarah’s message is simple: “Your values, empathy, and courage are your greatest tools. Don’t strive for perfection instead, strive to make a difference.”

This feature story is part of a series presenting 26 Vanuatu women who serve on boards, profiled in Balance of Power’s (BoP) book Nation Builders III.

The series is the outcome of a six-month partnership between BoP and the Vanuatu Daily Post to recognise women leaders, build awareness of women’s leadership in Vanuatu and encourage wider acknowledgement of their contributions across development and decision-making spaces.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST