Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) chief of staff Ben Ponia has returned to the Cook Islands following an enriching three-week experience in the United States, a statement from OPM said.

As a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship Programme on Leadership, Ponia attended Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, engaged with officials in Washington, D.C., and collaborated with experts at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego.

The Humphrey Fellowship, named after former U.S. Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, was established in 1978 as part of the Fulbright Exchange Programme. It seeks to strengthen partnerships between the U.S. and global leaders, equipping them to address pressing global challenges. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the programme engages with over 140 countries across 15 university campuses, focusing on leadership at the executive level to inspire meaningful policy change.

Ponia’s fellowship began with an intensive leadership course at Harvard’s Kennedy School, where he joined 80 participants from around the world. His focus was on ocean governance, marine research, and the sustainable development of deep-sea mineral resources within the Cook Islands and Polynesia.

A marine scientist by training and former secretary of the Ministry of Marine Resources, Ponia currently oversees several key portfolios at OPM, including the Marae Moana Coordination Office, the Climate Change Office, and the National Research Council. He also provides policy advice to Cabinet on national and regional matters.

Reflecting on his experience, Ponia said, “The Harvard Kennedy School is a premier institution for government policy and leadership. A key insight was the idea that leadership is a skill that can be learned, and holding authority does not necessarily equate to leading. The combination of high-caliber lecturers and diverse participants made it a truly engaging experience.”

Ponia is the first recipient from the Cook Islands to be awarded the Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship and one of only 12 fellows selected from hundreds of nominations submitted by U.S. embassies worldwide. He now joins a global network of more than 200 fellows from 85 countries, alongside a vast alumni base of Fulbright and Kennedy School graduates.

Following Harvard, Ponia travelled to San Diego, where he reconnected with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, an institution with which he shares a long history.

“Early in my career, I spent 40 days aboard a Scripps vessel on an oceanographic cruise across the Pacific, working as a lab technician. It was a pleasure to reconnect with Scripps at a policy level and explore new research opportunities within our waters.”

During his time in San Diego, discussions about engineering, conservation, and oceanography were enriched by showcasing the success of the young Cook Islands robotics team, who recently won gold at a competition in Athens. Their achievement underscored the growing potential of STEM education in the Cook Islands.

The final leg of the fellowship brought Ponia to Washington, D.C., for a series of high-level meetings, including discussions with congressional aides on Capitol Hill, officials at the Department of State, and members of the White House Chief of Staff’s team.

“Engaging with U.S. government officials, from Capitol Hill to the White House, provided valuable insights into shared and individual aspirations between a major power like the U.S. and a large ocean state such as the Cook Islands,” said Ponia. “I am particularly grateful to Deputy Secretary of State Campbell and UN Ambassador Greenfield for their support in facilitating these meetings.”

He expressed his appreciation to the Prime Minister for supporting his participation in the fellowship.

“It is not often that senior officials have the opportunity to step away, upskill, and gain new perspectives. This was my first chance in six years to set an ‘Out of Office’ notice, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity.”

• Jaewynn McKay/OPM