Ongerung “Kambes” Kesolei
Ongerung “Kambes” Kesolei is the founder and President of Compass Point Institute. He is currently also President of Belau Association of NGOs, Vice-President of Palau Entrepreneurs for Growth and a board member of Create Belau Inc. and the Palau Media Council (where he served as a former President).
Kambes is a veteran journalist and researcher with a career spanning print, radio, and television in Palau and across the Indo-Pacific. He combines a foundational background in science with a deep-seated commitment to civic engagement. He is dedicated to fostering an informed and active Palauan society through rigorous storytelling and insightful analysis.
Kambes began his journalism career at Tia Belau, Palau’s oldest newspaper, where he served as an editor and reporter. Today, he continues to shape public discourse through his weekly radio program, The Ongerung Show, which explores the history and cultural heritage of Palau.
A respected voice in the Pacific media landscape, Kambes has contributed to prominent regional and international outlets, including the Pacific Island Times (Guam), Islands Business (Fiji), and The Guardian. His journalistic portfolio is exceptionally diverse, encompassing in-depth coverage of politics, economics, sustainable tourism, environmental policy, climate change, and emerging trends such as cryptocurrency.
Kambes holds an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts from the Micronesian Occupational College (now Palau Community College). With a career built on bridging the gap between complex policy understanding and community action, he remains a pivotal figure in documenting and shaping the future of Palau.
