The annual Westpac Outstanding Women Awards celebrated accomplished women, both young and old, from all walks of life.
Despite the odds stacked against them as women in a patriarchal society, the 21 women nominated last night rose to the top of their fields and made their mark in their communities.
The Westpac red lit up the awards, as the night marked the 10th year of the awards; a decade of celebrating the intellect, the beauty and the power of women in PNG’s modern society.
The contributions and sacrifices of the nominees were applauded with PWC private sector award winner and overall WOW winner, Bosa Togs, stating that the outstanding women selected as finalists this year “are just a sample” and there were ordinary women doing extraordinary things in every field around Papua New Guinea.
The other winners of the night included Dorothy Lamin Koch-Waluta who was awarded the Steamships Not For Profit award; Rita Awesa, awarded the SP Brewery Entrepreneur award; Annastascia Wanasawo with the Trukai Community award; Julienne Leka-Maliaki with the Moore Printing Sports award; Jacqueline Joseph with the IBBM Young Achievers Award; and Dr Lutty Amos with the Pacific Assurance Public Sector Award.
However, though these select few were made finalists and recognised by Westpac PNG, ordinary women all around the country have been achieving extraordinary things.
From boardrooms, to classrooms, to the hospitals and courtrooms, the women of Papua New Guinea have been changing norms and setting trends and will do so for years to come. As the saying goes, “Mama stap, na yumi stap.”
