Debbie M. Remengesau

The First Lady of Palau

Debbie M. Remengesau is an active advocate for the protection and preservation of the Republic of Palau’s environmental resources and cultural identity for the future of Palau’s children.

Married to the ninth President of Palau, Tommy E. Remengesau, Jr., First Lady Remengesau stepped into her role to nurture, support and promote the interests of the most vulnerable members of society – women, children and elderlies – while also complimenting the President’s national policy direction.

As a mother and grandmother, First Lady Remengesau is dedicated to ensuring Palau’s precious environmental and cultural resources are preserved for the next generation. In 2018, in recognition of her remarkable leadership and unwavering commitment to this cause, she received the Prix de la Fondation Award, a prestigious honour granted by Crans Montana Forum, a Swizz non-governmental international organisation.

As chairperson of the Palau Legacy Project, First Lady Remengesau co-founded and launched the Palau Pledge, an internationally–acclaimed, world–first immigration stamp requiring all visitors entering Palau to take a pledge to protect the environment. This is a modern expression of Palau’s traditional conservation wisdom interpreted in way that all visitors can understand. The Palau Pledge continues to gain world recognition for its innovative approach.

First Lady Remengesau is an active member of a variety of organisations, including the Palau Conservation Society, the global Leading Women for Oceans Network, the International Association of First Ladies for Peace and the Palau Soroptimist International. She passionately utilises all of her memberships to strengthen programs and initiatives that support the Palauan community.