By Thaiz Macie From Island Innovation

The Honorable Mike Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba, will be speaking at the Virtual Island Summit 2025. This is the very first time he will address global audiences at the Summit.
 

Also speaking at the event will be Vanessa Toré, Director of Foreign Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Economic Development of Curaçao. The Caribbean leaders will address attendees during the fully online event. The 2025 VIS is expected to attract 10,000 participants from over 500 islands throughout the 5-day event, which is free to attend to the public.
 

Island Innovation is offering participants the chance to win one of three complimentary tickets to the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026, set to take place in Gran Canaria from April 20-22, 2026.

You can find further information about the Summit here: https://islandinnovation.co/events/virtual-island-summit/

See also:

Island Leaders to Address 10,000 Attendees at Virtual Island Summit 2025

The Honorable Mike Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba, and Antonio Morales Méndez, President of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria are headlining the agenda at the 2025 Virtual Island Summit (VIS) taking place September 15-19th, joining a plethora of other speakers from the world’s islands. The 2025 VIS is expected to attract 10,000 participants from over 500 islands throughout the 5-day event, which is free to attend to the public.

Since its first iteration in 2018, the VIS has become one of the largest knowledge-sharing opportunities for island stakeholders, with the free zero-carbon event promoting public participation and understanding of sustainable island solutions, while also providing access to expert speakers from civil society, academia, the private sector as well as government officials. This year’s VIS is sponsored by the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, the Edge Foundation, and the Caribbean Energy Chamber.

Some of the other high-level speakers who are involved in the event are:

• Miriam Dalli, Minister for Environment & Energy, Government of Malta
• Ruth Cross Kwansing, Minister of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs, Government of Kiribati
• Dai-Yeun Jeong, Director of Asia Climate Change Education Center; Professor of Environmental Sociology, Jeju National University in South Korea
• Lise Guennal, Senior Project and Policy Officer, CPMR Islands Commission
• Nikolaos Komineas, Mayor of the Municipality of Astypalaia

A full list of speakers can be found at: https://islandinnovation.co/events/virtual-island-summit/ 

“I greatly value the work that Island Innovation continues to do in connecting island communities and amplifying our shared efforts toward sustainable development,” said Mike Eman, Prime Minister of Aruba.

“The Virtual Island Summit is our flagship event and our team are proud to deliver such an impactful high-level knowledge-sharing event that puts islands at the heart of discussions,” explained Island Innovation Chief Executive Officer James Ellsmoor, “Every year, the VIS sessions highlight the resilience of islanders, and how impactful projects are being developed by and for these communities. With expert island stakeholders from around the world participating, we are able to properly showcase the wealth of knowledge that resides on the world’s islands.”

Speaking at the 2023 VIS, Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, the Chair of AOSIS and Permanent Representative of Samoa to the UN expressed, “Let this summit be a call for real climate action to facilitate the sustainable development of Small Island Developing States,” adding “It is imperative that we maintain momentum and come together, utilizing our tools, leveraging our expertise and ingenuity to find solutions. To my people on Small Island Developing States – I urge you to recognize your inherent worth and strength. Together we can lead by example and seek innovative solutions to the challenges that plague our development. The spirit of unity, resilience and community that defines our islands. Is a source of inspiration for the world.

Topics for the conference are wide-ranging, and cover all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to other topics pertinent to island communities. VIS2025 hosts five Content Tracks:

• Track 1. Sustainable Economic Development & Investment
• Track 2. Climate Resilience & Energy Transition
• Track 3: Blue Economy & Maritime Innovation
• Track 4: Governance, Capacity Building & Social Development
• Track 5: Digital Innovation & Connectivity