We were honoured to host Tongan artist and climate activist Uili Lousi at our Centre in Balmain for our first Talanoa in 2024. During the Talanoa (a traditional form of Pacific dialogue), which included participants from Australian Museum, Climate Action Network Australia, and others Uili talked of his journey to activism, his art practice and climate activism in Tonga and internationally. Uili also highlighted his ideas for creative projects that would allow Australia and the Pacific to come together as a region if Australia secured its bid for the 2026 United Nations climate conference (COP31.) Uili talked about some of the important Tongan philosophers and thinkers who had shaped his own thinking and approach including the late Professor Futa Helu (himself a student of the Influential University of Sydney philosopher–John Anderson) and the late Professor Epeli Hau’ofa. It was an honour to be able to host Uili Lousi in Balmain and help to build relationships between Uili and institutions such as the Australian Museum and the Australian climate action network.