The 18th Meeting of the Pacific Statistics Methods Board (PSMB18) will be held in Canberra, Australia, from Wednesday 27 to Thursday 28 May 2026, in conjunction with the Pacific Statistics Leadership forum hosted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The meeting is convened by the Pacific Community (SPC) and brings together members of the PSMB and technical partners.
The overarching theme of PSMB18 is “Fostering collaboration with stakeholders to respond to data needs for policy and decision making.” In line with this theme, the meeting will provide a platform for members to review emerging methodological issues, consider innovations in official statistics, and provide technical guidance on standards, tools, and quality assurance mechanisms that strengthen national statistical systems in the Pacific. The agenda includes a range of items for endorsement, discussion, and information, covering key areas such as international statistical classifications, crime statistics, administrative data use, data quality assurance, and the development of regional collection resources for censuses and surveys. PSMB18 continues the Board’s role as a regional governance and advisory body, providing expert advice to Pacific national statistical offices and technical partners on Pacific methodological priorities and implementation approaches. Outcomes from the meeting will inform ongoing regional initiatives and support evidence‑based policy formulation and decision‑making at national and regional levels.