1. Ralph Regenvanu has been a Member of Parliament since September 2008, was a member of Cabinet for most of the period from December 2010 to January 2012 and then from March 2013 to June 2015, and was the Director of the Vanuatu National Cultural Council from 1995 until December 2010.
Ralph Regenvanu has been a leading figure in Vanuatu's cultural world, primarily as a promoter of cultural knowledge preservation and sustainable development as a researcher, but, to a lesser extent, as a painter and illustrator.
Ralph Regenvanu has represented Vanuatu and its culture in the international sphere, notably through UNESCO.
Dorothy Ralph Regenvanu, born Dorothy Rutter in Australia, is a pastor in the Presbyterian Church.
Sethy Regenvanu was in Suva to study at the Pacific Theological College when Ralph, his and Dorothy's first child, was born.
Ralph Regenvanu was three years old when the family left Fiji to move to Australia, then back to Vanuatu.
Ralph Regenvanu studied anthropology, archeology and development studies at the Australian National University, obtaining an Honour's degree in development studies in 1991, before becoming curator of the National Museum of Vanuatu.
Ralph Regenvanu has advocated the use of customary law -as opposed to a legal system derived from British and French models- in the juvenile justice sector.
Ralph Regenvanu has stated that, although the Constitution recognises both "traditional Melanesian values" and Christianity as the bases of contemporary ni-Vanuatu society, the latter tends to overshadow the former.
Ralph Regenvanu has attempted to highlight the importance of indigenous customs and their present-day relevance.
In 2010, Ralph Regenvanu remained active in organising the festival, presiding over the Fest' Napuan Association, and announcing that that year's theme would be "Women in Music", to promote female musicians from around the Pacific and to combat gender bias in the music industry.
Ralph Regenvanu has been a jury member assessing potential items for UNESCO's Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity list.
In 2004, Ralph Regenvanu initiated the process to have sites associated with Roy Mata inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the first in Vanuatu, which was accomplished in 2008.
Ralph Regenvanu had been involved in unearthing another site, which contains "the oldest graves in the Pacific region" and the "only Lapita-era cemetery" found anywhere so far.
Ralph Regenvanu retired as Director of the Cultural Centre in December 2006, and subsequently entered politics.
In June 2009 at a meeting of several Melanesian community groups in Madang Ralph Regenvanu Reganvanu co-founded MILDA.
Ralph Regenvanu presided over a second MILDA meeting at Mele Village in June 2009.
Ralph Regenvanu remains active in the defence of customary land systems.
Ralph Regenvanu's invitation was due to his having been "heavily involved in the preparation for the Pacific Islands exhibition".
Pacific Magazine stated in April 2008 that "Ralph Regenvanu is seen as one of Vanuatu's future political leaders", while the Vanuatu Daily Post described him in April 2009 as an "upcoming leader".
Ralph Regenvanu had previously received support from The Vanuatu Independent in 2008, upon first announcing his entrance into a political career.
Ralph Regenvanu was elected to Vanuatu's parliament representing Port Vila as an independent candidate on 2 September 2008.
The press initially described Ralph Regenvanu as being a member of the Opposition.
Ralph Regenvanu, who did not seek a role in Cabinet, then described himself as a government backbencher; he was described as "an independent MP in the government coalition" and a "government MP", though he was not a member of Cabinet.
Also in March 2009, Ralph Regenvanu began to finance a "Youth Solidarity Micro-Credit Scheme" out of his parliamentary allocation, providing loans to assist several young people in setting up "small business projects".
Ralph Regenvanu subsequently continued to personally fund programmes from his parliamentary allowance.
Ralph Regenvanu had been invited to participate "in recognition of his leading role in building partnerships between Government, research institutions and civil society in Vanuatu".
On 4 May, Ralph Regenvanu relaunched a weekly radio programme, "Traem Tingting Smol", which he initially started in early 2008, to discuss political topics affecting people's lives.
Ralph Regenvanu had stated in the e-mail that Speaker of Parliament Maxime Carlot Korman would be "buried" if he attempted to stand in the 2012 general election.
In 2010, following a coronial report which accused police commissioner Joshua Bong of human rights abuses, and of attempting to "derail the coroner's inquest" into a prisoner's death in custody, Ralph Regenvanu publicly described Bong as "a thug who disregards the law", calling for his removal.
Ralph Regenvanu was a member of the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee investigating a misappropriation of public funds by public servants.
Ralph Regenvanu argued that, under the new rules, there was no longer any meaningful accountability, as the funds were now to be paid directly into MPs' salaries.
Ralph Regenvanu successfully moved that a nominal vote be taken on the issue, but was one of just seven MPs to vote against what the Daily Post described as an increase in MPs' salaries.
Ralph Regenvanu announced that he had received word in advance of the jailbreak attempt, from the prisoners themselves.
Ralph Regenvanu stated that he had found twenty-six of the escaped prisoners and taken them to the Malvatu Mauri nakamal, where they would be cared for by "community leaders".
Ralph Regenvanu stated that they had been ill-treated while in prison, and that they feared being beaten by prison staff if they returned.
In May 2010, six escaped prisoners asked to talk to Ralph Regenvanu, telling the police they were willing give themselves up if the request were granted.
Ralph Regenvanu passed on the prisoners' concerns to the relevant authorities and to the media, but did not obtain the surrender of all six.
In 2010, Ralph Regenvanu was instrumental in the tabling of a motion in Parliament stating that Vanuatu would request the support of the sixty fifth session of the General Assembly of the United Nations for the International Court of Justice to provide an advisory opinion on the legality of the agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands affecting the civil rights and lives of the people of West Papua.
Ralph Regenvanu subsequently criticised Papua New Guinea for having "consistently" opposed discussion of West Papua within the Melanesian Spearhead Group, "against the wishes of other Melanesian countries".
Ralph Regenvanu added: "We want to raise international attention to the issue of West Papua", saying that he hoped it would not compromise Vanuatu's relations with Indonesia.
In November 2010, Ralph Regenvanu launched his own political party, in preparation for the 2012 general election.
Ralph Regenvanu argued that the executive of existing parties was controlled by veteran politicians, inhibiting the rise of new, younger politicians.
Ralph Regenvanu was among those who crossed the floor to form the new parliamentary majority, and consequently obtained a post in Cabinet: Kilman appointed him Minister of Cooperatives and ni-Vanuatu Business Development, issues which Ralph Regenvanu's party had stated as priorities.
Ralph Regenvanu added that he had formulated a policy to restrict "the location and manner in which foreigners could establish retail and wholesale shops in Vanuatu", in order to safeguard local businesses, but that he had been reshuffled out of the ministry before it could be implemented.
Ralph Regenvanu was appointed Minister for Lands, while backbencher Esmon Sae succeeded him as Minister for ni-Vanuatu business.
Ralph Regenvanu's ministry announced at the start of March 2011 that "new applications for registration of land leases of customary land w[ould now] require consent from an entire landowner clan, not just individuals".
Carlot said he would continue Ralph Regenvanu's reforms aimed at rooting out and prevent corrupt practices.
Alfred Carlot sworn in as new Minister of Lands and Ralph Regenvanu transferred to Justice.
Ralph Regenvanu added that he would assist Alfred Carlot in pursuing the reforms he had initiated as Minister for Lands.
Ralph Regenvanu added he would like Australia to grant seasonal work visas to citizens from Vanuatu.
Yoan Simon, Ralph Regenvanu's predecessor, succeeded to the Justice ministry, while Dominique Morin obtained the Ministry of Lands.
Ralph Regenvanu stated that since Vohor and his cabinet were "illegal, null and void and were never the government of the country", the Kilman government had de jure been legitimate during the brief interlude of Vohor's de facto government.
In 2010, before becoming a minister, Ralph Regenvanu had already accused Bong of trying to "derail the coroner's inquest" into the prisoner's death in custody.
On 16 January 2012, Ralph Regenvanu received a letter from Prime Minister Kilman terminating his position as minister.
Ralph Regenvanu said the letter accused him of being disloyal to the government, without further explanation, although he thought it might be due to his having voted against Vanuatu's entry in the World Trade Organization.
Ralph Regenvanu described his sacking as "appropriate", as no minister in the country's history had ever voted against a government bill before, but said that he did not regret voting against WTO accession, as he had voted in accordance with the wishes of people.
Ralph Regenvanu added that, being outside the cabinet, he would now "be able to be much more critical of government policy and ask questions - something I wasn't able to do as a minister".
Ralph Regenvanu had brought about an amendment of the Law Commission Act "to provide a role for chiefs, churches, women and youth in screening all bills before they came before Parliament".
Ralph Regenvanu had begun a draft bill to "return jurisdiction over land disputes to chiefs at the community or 'nakamal' level".
Ralph Regenvanu is ambitious and offers a younger constituency a more effective voice in the parliament than that often delivered by the country's leaders.
Ralph Regenvanu nonetheless noted the budget safeguards on spending on education and health, and voted in favour of the budget so as not to block necessary spending on public services.
Ralph Regenvanu stated "I've been preparing for it for a while, to get into this Ministry", adding: "I think eighty percent of my time will be taken up with cleaning up the mess that's been left".
Ralph Regenvanu announced he would pursue the reforms which he had begun to initiate during his previous term as Minister for Lands.
Ralph Regenvanu suggested that the government should encourage and support an agriculture-based economy, empowering customary land-owners.
Ralph Regenvanu crossed the floor with his party on 15 May 2014 to help bring down the Carcasses government.
Ralph Regenvanu lost office on 11 June 2015 when the Natuman government was ousted in a motion of no confidence.
Ralph Regenvanu led his party into a large coalition government, under Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.
In July 2018, in response to rumours that Vanuatu might allow the People's Republic of China to build a military harbour on its territory, Ralph Regenvanu denied it, while praising the benefits of Chinese investments in the country, and noting that the story had led to increased Australian engagement with Vanuatu.
Ralph Regenvanu received the votes of 21 MPs, to 31 for Opposition candidate Bob Loughman.
Loughman became prime minister, while Ralph Regenvanu became Leader of the Opposition, leading a coalition which includes the Reunification Movement for Change, the Leaders' Party and the National United Party as well as his own Land and Justice Party.
Ralph Regenvanu is a painter and illustrator and, in 1996, published an article entitled "Transforming representations: Contemporary art of Vanuatu" in the book "Arts of Vanuatu", which provided the first historical survey of the development of contemporary art in Vanuatu.
Ralph Regenvanu's work has been featured in The Contemporary Pacific.