Blake Everson

Blake Everson’s path to building Papua New Guinea’s most ambitious specialty coffee venture began in an unlikely place: the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. After college, he worked as a researcher and assistant to a Member of Parliament, focusing on transportation and infrastructure policy—an experience that sharpened his understanding of how systems function, and how easily communities on the margins are excluded.

He then moved to New York City to join Christopher Cerf—Emmy Award-winning author, composer, and co-creator of Sesame Street and Between the Lions—as a creative and logistical assistant. Working across publishing, television, and educational media, Blake played a behind-the-scenes role in the development of large-scale projects, learning firsthand the power of storytelling to drive systems change.

He later spent time with the USDA Forest Service, contributing to projects related to public land management, ecological access, and the relationship between communities and natural systems. The work deepened his interest in how land, livelihoods, and long-term stewardship intersect.

For nearly two decades, Blake has spent significant time immersed in Papua New Guinea, building long-standing relationships with Indigenous landowners across some of the country’s most remote and ecologically significant regions. His work has centered on creating new models for ethical trade, conservation-based economies, and partnership-driven development.

He is also General Manager of Oceania Expeditions, a bespoke adventure travel company that curates rare, high-impact journeys through Papua New Guinea’s most culturally rich and inaccessible landscapes.

Blake is the founder of Niu Nature PNG and Niu Nature Coffee, and brings a rare combination of policy insight, field experience, and long-term commitment to frontier market development. He continues to lead the company’s vision, operations, and partnerships on the ground.