Board of Directors and Advisors

Our Board

Brett Serwalt

President

BIO

Brett Serwalt

Olsem Wanem!

I served as a PCV 2006-08, Group 19A, Tanna Island. I grew up in the Northeast, earned a BA in Business Management and worked for too long in coffee retailing before joining the Peace Corps at age 35. Arriving in Port Vila, I remember telling the PC staff I was very happy to help in any way so long as it had nothing to do with coffee. They promptly assigned me to the Tanna Coffee project! It was an amazing experience. Following service, I returned to San Diego where I bought a small business. When it burned down, I rebuilt it bigger and better than before, only to shut the doors a couple years later. Shifting gears, I earned a Master's in International Development with my eyes on new adventures.

I look forward to playing a role in developing FOV2 into an organization that reconnects us to each other and to Vanuatu, launching small development projects, and being a resource for PCVs before, during, and after their service.

Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli

Treasurer

BIO

Gaea Dill-D'Ascoli

Olsem wanem?

My partner, Jason Ritenour, and I were part of G-23. We started on Pentecost in 2010 then moved into Vila for an extension year. As a health volunteer, I spent my time on Pentecost talking about all the taboo subjects – sex, poop, and gender-based violence. In town, I worked in the PC office as a PCVL and at Wan Smol Bag doing a combination of environmental outreach and youth development. Back in the US, I received a Master’s in Arts and Cultural Management and have worked as a freelance artist (and sometimes Bislama translator) since 2014. I hope that FoV2 will be a way to connect with other people who love Vanuatu and share that love with our communities.

Dennis Mello

Secretary

BIO

Dennis Mello

Group 20b, 2007-2009. My wife Sandra and I served together on Vanua Lava. We were education volunteers and worked at Sanlang Primary School. After Vanuatu, we returned to San Diego where we grew up. I got a Master's in International Economic Development from UCSD. I have worked at PCI, an international NGO based in San Diego since then. I’m very excited to be a part of FOV to help current and former Vanuatu RPCVs and others connect with each other and stay connected with Vanuatu.

Aaron Hiliker

Communications Director

BIO

Aaron Hiliker

Hello everyone! My name is Aaron Hilliker from Kalkaska, MI. I was part of G28 serving from 2016-2019. I served on the wonderful island of Ambrym as a Community Health Facilitator and extended my service to work as a PCVL in the office. Currently, I am living in Michigan enjoying being with family and trying to keep warm in all this snow! I joined the FOV board because a part of my heart is still in Vanuatu and this is a great part to keep connected with Vanuatu.

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Project Coordinator - US based

BIO

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This board role is currently open.

Interested in our mission and goals and wish to join our team?

We welcome any applicant who can demonstrate a cultural understanding of Vanuatu, familiarity with the Peace Corps, and a passion to help the team advance our goals.
Some positions, such as Treasurer, will require demonstration of specific skills.
Please email President@FO2.org to learn how you can apply for this role.

Vanna Kealy

Board Member

BIO

Vanna Kealy

Greetings All!

I served in Vanuatu from 2017-2020 with Group 29 and then extended as the first Special Projects PCVL. During my traditional service, I was an Education Volunteer in south Santo and then moved to Vila when I became a PCVL. As PCVL, I worked on creating this organization and was planning the 30th anniversary of Peace Corps Vanuatu but got sent home during the global evacuation due to Covid-19. Prior to the Peace Corps, I worked for the State of North Carolina and lived in Charlotte, NC for the last decade. The Carolina mountains are my home but I will be relocating to the Philly area to continue my work as a project manager with the federal government once facilities are clear to open. I miss my Vanuatu family and can't wait to see their faces and enjoy Sunday laplap and family swim time in the solwata once more.

Teresa Oberti

Board Member

BIO

Teresa Oberti

Hi Everyone!

I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu from 2006-2007 with group 19A. I served on the island of ‘black magic’, Ambrym, working with a group of women on leadership and economic development. I’m originally from Northern California but now live in the DC area with my Ni-Vanuatu husband and 2 kids. After serving in the Peace Corps I realized I wanted to keep working in international development and luckily found a job with the USDA/Foreign Agricultural Service working on agriculture development and trade. I still enjoy taking long walks in the bush and making laplap with my family.

Meré Sovick

Board Member

BIO

Meré Sovick

Born in Vanuatu in the small village of Lavatu on the northern island of Pentecost where I grew up, then moved to the capital city, Port Vila on the island of Efate. Later, I attended a boarding school in New Zealand. In New Zealand, I spent a year of High School on a Maori Marae before continuing on to college.

In the summer of 1997, I worked as a language trainer for Peace Corps Vanuatu. My group was group 10. Our training was held in the village Liro on the island of Paama for 6 weeks before the swearing-in ceremony in Port Vila. I later met my husband who served as a PCV1995-98, Group 8. He served at Malapoa College on Efate.

My husband and I share the same passion for service. We have four children and currently live on Bainbridge Island in Washington State in the USA.

I currently serve as the executive director of the Melanesian Women Today organization. I look forward to sharing my experiences as a ni-Vanuatu spouse of an RPCV, and also explore other exciting areas where FOV2 can grow.

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Vice President

BIO

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This board role is currently open.

Interested in our mission and goals and wish to join our team?

We welcome any applicant who can demonstrate a cultural understanding of Vanuatu, familiarity with the Peace Corps, and a passion to help the team advance our goals.
Some positions, such as Treasurer, will require demonstration of specific skills.
Please email President@FO2.org to learn how you can apply for this role.

{ Click BIO 👇🏽 }

Project Coordinator - Vanuatu Based

BIO

{ Click BIO 👇🏽 }

This board role is currently open.

Interested in our mission and goals and wish to join our team?

We welcome any applicant who can demonstrate a cultural understanding of Vanuatu, familiarity with the Peace Corps, and a passion to help the team advance our goals.
Some positions, such as Treasurer, will require demonstration of specific skills.
Please email President@FO2.org to learn how you can apply for this role.