Dr. Karlo Mila
Dr. Karlo Mila is a poet, writer, academic and mother. Karlo has written two books of poetry, one of which won a New Zealand literary award. Karlo has spent the last five years undertaking postdoctoral research exploring what is healing according to indigenous knowledge from the Pacific Islands of Oceania.
She is the Programme Director of the Mana Moana Experience at Leadership New Zealand which aims to vitalise Pasifika ancestral knowledge in this modern world. Mana Moana – Pacific Voices is a collection of emotive and artistic video works that have been created to amplify and support the Pacific to drive global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Gifted Pacific poets are joined by indigenous artists to create a visual, moving, digitally enhanced offering in this curated series of poems hand picked by special curator Dr Karlo Mila.
“Hopes, dreams, horrors, hurts, all of it embraced in the alchemy of poetry. We bring the beauty of poetry to the lived experiences of those in the region of Oceania.”
Using her talent to help her people with issues in mental health and climate action - she is no stranger to making people appreciate and love Pacific culture. Her passion for written poetry takes heed in this fight against climate change.
“We will not come to speak numbers.
We will not be stuck in the small cages of spreadsheets.
We come accounting for generations to come:
knowing our blue bonds are to the ocean, earth and sky”