Vanessa Burke, one of the appointed Navigators of the International Forum “We, the Youth” (IFWY), was recently featured on Compass TV’s Daybreak, where she shared reflections on her youth leadership journey and the significance of representing the Caribbean Region on a global stage. The interview aired on 20 October 2025, just days before she travelled to Seoul to join youth delegates from around the world at the IFWY Final Conference. 

Today, Vanessa stands as one of IFWY’s global Navigators — a role reserved for delegates selected to carry forward the Forum’s consolidated youth recommendations and engage with international partners. But her journey to this position was shaped by years of dedicated service as the Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Corps, her work as a Youth Ambassador for the Cayman Islands Government, and her participation in the IFWY Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Dialogue earlier this year. 

In her interview, Vanessa spoke about how she first applied to the regional forum and later emerged as one of the top 25 youth delegates selected to advance to the IFWY Final Conference in Seoul. She described the Seoul gathering as a meaningful opportunity to bring Caribbean perspectives into global spaces, noting that IFWY offers a rare platform where youth from every region can exchange experiences, negotiate priorities, and shape shared visions for the future. She highlighted why global forums must include voices from communities that are often underrepresented. 

Reflecting on her role, she noted that representing both her country and region carried a special responsibility. She also spoke about raising international awareness of the Cayman Islands and sharing the strengths and perspectives of Caribbean youth with the global community. 

At the time of the interview, Vanessa expressed hope that she might progress further in the IFWY leadership pathway. Following the Final Conference, she achieved exactly that, being selected as one of IFWY’s Navigators, a position through which she now continues to amplify youth priorities at the international level. 

Her Compass TV appearance now serves as a meaningful snapshot of her journey: a moment where her Caymanian roots, Caribbean leadership experience, and global aspirations came together, just before stepping into her new role with IFWY.