For Cook Islander Ewan Cameron, living and working abroad doesn’t mean losing touch with home – in fact, it’s the opposite.

Based in Apia, Samoa, with his partner Nanette Woonton, the Arorangi (Aroa) native says it’s always an honour to represent the Cook Islands on the regional stage through his work with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).

“I guess you always wear your country flag on your heart,” says Cameron. “So it’s always a special opportunity for me, and I’m always honoured to have the opportunity to work for a regional organisation like SPREP.”

Cameron works as an international climate change and engagement coordinator. His role involves supporting Pacific Island countries with policy development, capacity building, and negotiations training as part of their engagement with the global climate change convention.

He recently returned to Samoa in 2023 after spending over four years with the Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, working in the Pacific and Regional Affairs Division.

The move was both a professional opportunity and a personal one.

“It just so happens because of Covid, my partner was able to work remotely during the Covid period and post in the Cook Islands as well. Then when it was time to come back to Samoa, when everyone was being called back into headquarters, she was unable to come back alone again,” shares Cameron.

“So we decided that we would move back together … and this position that I’m currently in was available. So I applied for it and I was lucky to get the job.”

The return marked a familiar transition — before their most recent stint in the Cook Islands, Cameron and his family had lived in Samoa for 12 years.

Both their daughters spent part of their childhood and schooling in Samoa.

“It was definitely a very easy move, just moving from one island to another island,” he says. “It provided our kids with different perspectives around two different types of cultures — how one country operates in terms of its governance and economically.”

Reflecting on the differences between his two island homes, Cameron points to the tourism industry as a standout contrast.

“We in the Cook Islands have a strong tourism sector,” he notes. “There’s a lot of people that visit versus Samoa having this very strong sort of a stronger industry.”

Despite the economic and cultural differences, Cameron says Samoa has been good to them.

“There wasn’t much adjustment to the culture. It was actually quite nice,” he says. “It’s been a really good experience, actually … Samoa is the second home for us. Quite naturally, we can integrate quite well.”

Though based abroad, the Cameron family remains closely tied to the Cook Islands. Their two daughters have returned home and are contributing to the community.

“We have two kids, both girls, both working back in the Cook Islands,” he says. “The eldest works for CITV and the second one just recently joined National Environment Service (NES).”

His younger daughter, Mareva, studied in New Zealand but eventually found her way back home.

Even as he builds regional partnerships and advances climate action across the Pacific, the pull of home remains strong.

“Yeah, for sure. There’s definitely no place like home,” he says, when asked whether he sees himself returning to the Cook Islands.

“Actually, Nan and I are just considering it right now, whether we move back once we’ve finished this contract or within another three years. So definitely the long-term plan is to move back within six years’ time and then I’m going to start the next chapter and journey back home.”

For now, Samoa remains a base — one that holds a small but tight-knit Cook Islands community.

As for his work with SPREP, Cameron is proud to be among a diverse team serving the Pacific region.

“In the climate change programme, we share the programme with those from Samoa as well, New Zealand and Australia, Solomon Islands, and Tonga, and Japan,” he says.

“And you learn the different unique cultures and behaviours, and you learn the different sort of cultural protocols firsthand, which is something pretty special.”