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Susil Nelson-Kongoi

https://vimeo.com/441889193

Pawa Meri Save Meri Skulim Meri

From _____ Province


Involved with these entities: https://pngiportal.org/search/?q=SUSIL+NELSON


http://www.techinpacific.com/susil-nelson-kongoi-named-one-png-rare-birds-global-ambassadors/

The Inspiring Rare Birds program is a social impact initiative that helps to promote opportunities for women in entrepreneurship and leadership. Susil and the other five PNG women leaders met Jo Burston during their visit to Australia earlier this year under the Women in Leadership Fellowship. They were invited to the launching of the Rare Birds program.

The program is supported by the Australian Government and Papua New Guinea, aims at strengthen the relationship in women empowerment between the two countries.

Being the Public Policy and Issues Manager herself, Susil is very passionate about developing women and how to provide them with necessary skills, especially in the industry of energy where she works in.

“It’s really important to have spirit where you don’t give up and look for opportunities that might be just mentioning to someone in conversations where I am at and ‘this is my problems’. They might refer you to someone else, but I feel like you have to talk about it and tell other people. That’s where the opportunity comes.”

Besides Susil, the other two Ambassadors are Vani Nades, the Founder and CEO of Emstret Holdings Limited; and Fredrick Tamarua, the Principal Legal Officer at Department of Justice and Attorney General at Office of the State Solicitor.


https://www.abc.net.au/abc-international-development/leading-the-way-for-png-women-in-business/11532014

Fri 20 Sep 2019, 10:48am

Susil Nelson-Kongoi is one of only a handful of women working in Papua New Guinea's oil and gas industry.

Despite being part of the minority, Susil has fiercely worked her way through the ranks to the position of senior executive at ExxonMobil PNG.

Susil has an enormous passion and drive to see more women enter the industry, and trains others to ensure she doesn't remain the minority. Watch her story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxYep5HKCOE


http://incentivefund.org/about/incentive-fund-board

Both Governments congratulate Susil Nelson-Kongoi for recently being nominated as the first ever female Chair of the Incentive Fund’s SMG. The Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership is proud to support women in leadership.

Susil Nelson-Kongoi is a highly experienced Corporate Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the program development industry. In her current role as Public Policy and Issues Manager with ExxonMobil, Susil uses all of her skills in government, policy analysis, risk management, strategic planning, and community development.

She has served on the Incentive Fund’s Strategic Management Group since 2015 and now in her role as Chair, brings strong program and project management experience, coupled with her advanced knowledge of accounting and information systems. She has served on many boards and committees, studied in New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea, and is dedicated to supporting the ongoing development of PNG.

(The Incentive Fund is a PNG-Australia Partnership initiative, providing high-performing organisations with grants to improve service delivery and/or provide economic opportunities for the people of PNG.)


https://www.pngcci.org.pg/pngcci-executives/

PNG Camber of commerce and industry

Board Coordination : Susil Nelson-Kongoi


http://www.bcpng.org.pg/board

MS SUSIL NELSON-KONGOI - VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL

Westpac Business Woman of the Year for 2012, Susil is a leader in the new generation of PNG professional women. She was recognized for her contribution to local business through her work with the PNG Sustainable Development Program.  Susil is an active member of the Business and Professional Women's Club, focusing on building a strong network for women and supporting educational opportunities for women and girls in PNG. She is also Honorary Treasurer on the Board of Coalition For Change, which is a local organization dedicated to achieving cultural change in PNG, where violence especially spousal violence and violence against children is not tolerated and the rights of women and children are respected.

The Coalition for Change made a landmark milestone achievement in 2013 having the Family Protection Bill passed as an Act of Parliament on 18th September 2013.  Susil is also Vice President of the PNG Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PNGWCCI).  PNGWWCI aims to empower and strengthen women entrepreneurs and leaders by building capacity, creating business networks, advocating innovation, and creating wealth and prosperity in an enabling environment.

More recently Susil has been involved with various activities that promote education and activism to encourage young women into leadership roles.  Some of these projects include the Pawa Meri Project a documentary series of films about six women leaders in PNG.  Pawa Meri is aimed at educating and inspiring young women and school-aged girls about career paths and to become leaders.  Developing the Decie Autin Scholarship to be launched in 2015.  The scholarship aims to increase the number of PNG Women in the field of engineering.

Susil currently works for ExxonMobil as National Content Manager responsible for stewarding and reporting on 3 main components of national content - workforce development (recruitment of Papua New Guinean employees and training programs), supplier development (development and use of qualified local vendors for supply of goods and services) and strategic community developments (investments in health, education and infrastructure that aids the development of local capabilities and improves socioeconomic environment for communities)

Susil is an accomplished leader who can inspire others to follow.



Speaks regularly: https://www.apacoutlookmag.com/industry-insights/article/634-papua-new-guinea-petroleum-energy-summit

https://pacificwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-Annual-Learning-Workshop-Report.pdf

Ms Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Senior Executive, ExxonMobil PNG and vice President of the Business Council of Papua New Guinea provided the first keynote address. Ms Nelson-Kongoi spoke about her work supporting local organisations and women to achieve economic empowerment. She emphasised that we all have a responsibility to reach back and pull others up with us. Ms Nelson-Kongoi spoke of the importance of encouraging young women to enter science, technology, engineering and maths fields and the support provided though the Business Professional Women’s Club of Papua New Guinea Scholarships program.


Learn more about this and figure out what to do with it: http://www.ibbm.com.pg/newmember/


Successful Women’s Coalitions in Papua New Guinea and Malaysia: Feminism, Friendships and Social Change

Ceridwen Spark and Julian C. H. Lee

January 2018

BPW’s contributions over more than thirty years have led to their members ‘having a place at the table’ when it comes to debates about gender equity in PNG. For example, BPW’s chairperson Susil Nelson has taken part in round tables with Hilary Clinton and other high-profile international visitors. She also plays a leading role among local groups advocating gender equality,including serving as a board member on the Business Coalition forWomen (formed in 2014),as theVice President of the Business Council of PNG, and as the Vice President of the PNG Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industr y.

P5

BPW has always sought to ensure that scholarship recipients become members of the club to expand their networks and knowledge.This strategy has proved successful, completing the ‘full circle’ in which the girls who are supported with scholar- ships join BPW and contribute to raising funds to support others. It is a strategy that also ensures intergenerational contact and continuity. According to the current chairperson, Susil Nelson, ‘there are now more Papua New Guineans then there are expatriates’.

P5

Susil Nelson says that meetings provide important opportunities for networking and informal mentoring:

When you attend a monthly meeting, you meet other women and make those connections and they can also assist in terms of mentoring or being role models and that’s easier once you’ve met them to be able to ask them questions or get a contact with them.The sort of environment that we try to foster is one that can also lead to other interaction outside of that monthly meeting.

According to Nelson, these interactions lead to employment opportunities because employers are aware of the coalition’s work and give preference to BPW members when hiring. Diane Kala, a one-time recipient, now a member, supported this: ‘[BPW] can use their networks to get you on board to actually do something with your qualification’.

P6

Moreover, as a result of its strong positive reputation, BPW is regularly asked to work with other women’s coalitions and to participate in high-level discussions about promoting gender equity in PNG, including for example, Susil Nelson’s participation in a forum with Hilary Clinton and her role on the board of the Business Coalition for Women.The club is also affiliated with the Coalition for Change (CfC) whose mission is ‘to work towards achieving cultural change in PNG, where violence especially spousal violence and violence against children is not tolerated and the rights of women and children are respected’. Consequently, while the coalition is led by elite, well-connected and influential women, these same women see themselves as understanding the challenges faced by less well positioned Papua New Guinean women because they are involved with them through the work they do.While they are open to working with some of the emerging women’s coalitions, Bonas says that BPW first makes sure ‘that it’s an organisation that we want to be associated with’.

Outcomes

Susil Nelson and Judith Bona say that because everything has been run by volunteers, BPW ‘don’t actually have numbers for how many girls we’ve funded since inception’ nor have they been able to track the career progress and influence of scholarship recipients. However, recent scholarship figures are available and these show that between 2011 and 2014, BPW funded education for 600 girls and women to the value of 500,000 PNG Kina (AUS $250,000). Since the introduction of the tuition free policy, BPW have supported girls and women to attend university, technical colleges, business schools,TAFE, nursing school and teachers’ colleges. In 2013 alone, 60 girls were supported to attend Don Bosco Technical Institute, from which graduates emerge with the skills to fix cars, computers and other electronic devices.


https://pacificprecinct.org/discussion-events/apec-discussion-series/women-in-leadership/

Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct

Papua New Guinea - Australia Partnership

Women in Leadership

Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Dr Sharman Stone led a panel discussion on public policy and strategies that can support women in leadership in Papua New Guinea.

Panellists included Dr Eric Kwa, then-Secretary of the Constitutional Law Reform Commission; Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Public Policy and Issues Manager at ExxonMobil; Kessy Sawang, a candidate in 2017 Papua New Guinea National Election; and Ivan Pomaleu, Papua New Guinea’s APEC Ambassador.


https://png.embassy.gov.au/pmsb/562.html

The Governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea are currently assessing grant proposals for the funding of new development projects under the PGK150 million Incentive Fund Phase IV (IF4).

An initial meeting of the Strategic Management Group, which contributes to informing the grants review process, has been held in Wewak in East Sepik Province. The Strategic Management Group comprises independent members including newly elected chairperson Valentine Kambori, Dame Carol Kidu and Susil Nelson–Kongoi, working together with representatives from the PNG Government through the Ministry of National Planning and the Australian Government through the Australian High Commission.



https://oglinks.news/exxonmobil/news/group-supports-women-in-education

THE Port Moresby Business and Professional Women (BPW) club aims to build a strong network and support for women in education, president Susil Nelson says.

Nelson said the support to education for women and girls in the country was Business and Professional Women’s contribution to gender parity, made through a small group of women who volunteer their time to ensure the success of the scholarship programme.

She said since its establishment the club was able to provide more than K1 million through its scholarship programme that had seen more than 1600 girls further their education in different professional fields.

Speaking at a Business and Professional Women breakfast yesterday to celebrate International Women’s Day, Nelson said last year BPW awarded 391 scholarships valued at more than K215,000 for women and girls, enrolled in over 24 institutions in the country.


https://www.thenational.com.pg/awards-boost-women-says-nelson/

2016

SUSIL Nelson, a former winner of the Westpac Outstanding Women awards (WOW), says it has been a boost to women who strive to become agents of change in the community.

Nelson, who compered the 10th WOW awards in Port Moresby last Friday, said she benefited a lot from the awards.

“Ten years ago, there was no annual gathering of this kind. But there was certainly a growing class of high achieving women making strides across Papua New Guinea,” Nelson said.

“Westpac noticed these female trail-blazers and wanted to thank them and put them up on a pedestal – honouring their individual achievements, but more than that, providing role models for other women and girls.”

She said Westpac through the WOW not only recognised individual achievements but providing role models for all the women and girls.

Nelson was a WOW Businesswoman of the Year award winner.

“The award enabled me to go down to Sydney to attend the women’s leadership dialogue. It was fantastic because I met some of the powerful women in Australia,” she said. “When I came back, it was like there is so much to do.

“I guess one of things about being one of the past WOW winners is that it recognises what you are already doing. So when you get that recognition it actually helps you to do better.

“It is amazing because not only that, you have these other women who are just as fantastic as finalists.

“So what you find out is you connect to the other women and help them.

“When you help somebody step up, it actually helps you to rise as well.

“So that is what I learnt from being a past award winner.

“It keeps getting better because you get selected to go and inspire other women on occasions like this.

“I know it can be daunting (to be a) finalist but just say yes and do it and you can figure it out and you will find out that you have the courage to do it.

“So keep what you are doing, God will lift you up.”


https://www.thenational.com.pg/nelson-wins-westpac-wib-award/

2012

SUSIL Nelson, the manager for corporate governance in the PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP), last night won the Westpac Women in Business Award for 2012.

Nelson did not win her corporate category, that went to Florence Lou Willie, but she took the overall award from nine other finalists in five categories at the Gateway Hotel.

“I am humbled and at the same time excited to be in your midst to receive the Westpac Women in Business Awards,” a beaming Nelson said.

“I never thought I would win such an award, let alone be a finalist among such accomplished and inspiring women tonight.”

Nelson said she did not think she would win but later expressed her gratitude to everyone who had supported her and had faith in her.

Nelson was one of the two finalists in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards, along with Willie.

She said she believed in personal integrity.

She urged women who had the opportunity to be educated to have a sense of duty to care and empower, set an example, mentor, inspire and motivate the next generation of Papua New Guineans to be the best at what they did or wanted to achieve.

Nelson has volunteered her services to community organisations such as Business and Professional Women’s Club and Coalition for Change.

“I am inspired and motivated to know that contribution of my knowledge, skills and time is changing a woman’s life for the better,” she said.


https://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/07/06/women-challenge-glass-ceilings-in-papua-new-guinea/

“Pawa Meri” — “power women”.

try to teach women to grab opportunities that arise and run with it


https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/27012017/papua-new-guinea-petroleum-energy-summit-confirms-speaker-line-up/

  • Susil Nelson-Kongoi (National Content Manager, ExxonMobil PNG).
  • Friday, 27 January 2017 09:15


https://www.dlprog.org/opinions/education-against-the-odds-the-work-of-a-women-s-coalition-in-papua-new-guinea

current club President Susil Nelson - the Port Moresby chapter of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW).

-well-connected with corporate sponsors and this means that BPW has been able to step up its support for the education of girls and women.


https://www.dfat.gov.au/news/speeches/Pages/140310-int-womens-day-stokes

I would like to acknowledge the work of the Port Moresby Business and Professional Women's Club, and to thank its members – and in particular its President, Susil Nelson – for the important work they do in promoting gender equality and in organising this annual International Women's Day breakfast.

Address at an International Women's Day Breakfast, 10 March 2014


Spark, Ceridwen. The New Port Moresby: Gender, Space, and Belonging in Urban Papua New Guinea. United States, University of Hawaii Press, 2020.

p39

Worked at PGN SUstainable Development

subject of film _Save Meri_

Nelson unusual because live in an urban area and work as a professional inthe formal sector

--not a typical life

--but part of a growing trend of studying overseas and returning to reintegrate into PNG -- but a challenge as she cannot inheret foather's land or status in Sepik (tribe??) culture

--warm relationship with extended family


https://pnglng.com/Newsroom/Media-Release/ExxonMobil-launches-cookbook-to-raise-funds-for-wo

30 May 2013

“BPW helps young women seeking to further their education through a scholarship program.

“The funds from the sale of the cookbook will assist disadvantaged women and girls wishing to attend tertiary institutions and colleges,” Ms Nelson said.

“BPW would like to thank ExxonMobil for their support.”

BPW was established in Port Moresby in 1982 and is a local non-government organisation. BPW empowers women through education and assists hundreds of Papua New Guinean girls and women each year, who would otherwise not have been able to continue with their education through providing scholarships.


https://www.businessadvantagepng.com/in-brief-porgera-mine-to-continue-operations-and-other-business-stories/

2019

o Burston, Founder of Inspiring Rare Birds, a company that aims to improve women’s economic security through different programs, announced three ambassadors for PNG last week—Vani Nades, Founder and CEO Emstreet Holdings Limited, Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Public Policy and Issues Manager for ExxonMobil PNG, and Frederick Tamrua, Principal Legal Officer (International Law)-Department of Justice and Attorney General, Office of the State Solicitor.

The mentors joining Inspiring Rare Birds’ Ambassador Program in PNG will be mentoring women entrepreneurs to help them grown their businesses.



betty higgins

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Election_2007/GapBAQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=betty+higgins+png+OR+papua+OR+westpac&pg=PA409&printsec=frontcover

early life bio

P.409

Born Goroka 1958,

Eldest child of parents - Gende (tribe??)

father: Ruge Angiva ("houseboy") -- hometown Yandera, oldest male in his generation

--when Betty was a toddler, brought her and two pregnant wives back to Yandera

*his father near death, so took over running household

* got lots of help from father's younger brothers to get gardening land & brideprice --> third wife

  • also paid off Elizabeth's brideprice and "childwealth payments" for Betty's generation
  • in return,uncles would expect help with brideprices for their kids and also some of profit from Ruge's daughters brideprices

mother: Elizabeth -- second wife

--important roll model for Betty

--center of Goroka migrant community (many people came to town to make their fortune)

--taught

--fluent in Pidgin

--not afraid of white people, trained newcomers in how to work successfully in white people's households

--generous, took in and supported Ruge's clan brothers

got attention from parents and fathers' clan brothers

--shared an urban household

--uncles babysat her a lot while her mother worked for white families (or gambled for money??)

P410

Education: Elizabeth enrolled Betty and her sister in a boarding school in Bundi

--uncles thought it would create bad morals for two girls to live independently and far from family

--mom came to visit weekly, dad kind of avoided getting involved

--Betty really enjoyed school and dorm life

Mother left father, but before working off her brideprice as expected. Betty did not go with her, but stayed at school. Left Betty on her own. Father would not support, but maternal grandmother and other women did. When it was time for high school, would need to travel to the coast to attend - dad wanted her to stop schooling and come home to work the garden, pay off debt of her mother's brideprice. Other women got enough money for a plane ticket to get Betty to school, but she had no money for tuition. Head of school arranged housecleaning jobs at faculty homes to pay for tuition.

High school was lonely, felt abandoned by parents

Used to go to Madang hospital and visit children there. - brought fruit and flowers for the other children who seemed loneley

--one visit, passed the room of a white man who looked sad. she was scared of him: put flowers in his room and ran away; next visit, nurse brought her in to see him bc it had been his birthday and she had cheered him up

--they got to talking and he wanted to help her -- took her to Australia to enroll in HS, paid for tuition and living expenses; later man's family traveled to England and Betty went with them

Air Niugini : After high school got job as flight attendant -- traveled around PNG and to other Pacific countries. Also had a company-owned apartment where she lived. Saw a lot of the world and developed a skill set and knowledge set that was somewhat unusual for PNG. Also developed the attitude that expatriate men were kinder and more generous.

p411

--met first husband on a flight to Australia (he was Australian): Father-in-law lived in Port Morsby and worked as a car dealer, had a large home and Betty moved in there.

--ran household and budget, followed mother's example and welcomed Gende people into their home - quite regular, caused tension

Reunited her parents while working as a flight attendant -- their common visits to married household also caused tenstion with husband and FIL

--demanded a brdeprice

--betty sent parents back to village, saying she wanted to be her own woman and pay or herself

Daughter, Lisa, named after wife of a local Chinese resturuant owner -- couple were her good friends. Often took daughter to travel around Asia Pacific

--Betty was still working as flight attendant, so asked younge sister to come and care for Lisa -- mother also came, saying she was better prepared to care for a child but also had usurious motivations

--Her father also believed that he was Betty's head of household, so her married family's wealth and home were his; sent people from hometown to see her/stay in "his home"

*She did have a certain amount of obligation to hr father, if she ever wanted to return home but also found it ironic that he claimed these rights when he had not supported her schooling

Husband ha substance abuse problems so she moved out to company appartments again, and then dated. Eventually married another Australian, Ken, an Engineer at Yonki dam iste in Eastern Highlands Province

--supported Betty in returning to village to raise children and start a business

*Newly connected to outside world with a drywhether road

*Use husband's money to buy a truck and other supplies to start a coffee buying business

p412


by 1994 raising trout and chickens





https://www.westpac.com.au/docs/pdf/aw/Winners-Women-in-Business-2009-Final.pdf

Overall winner of the 2009 Westpac Women in Business Awards & Daltron Entrepreneur Award winner

Owner and Manager of Betty’s Lodge and Mt Wilehem Trout farm

As a young girl, her father wanted her to have an arranged marriage, and advised that if she wanted to go to high school she would need to earn the $20 for school fees each year. With just $1 in her pocket and the dress she was wearing, she arrived in Madang, and enrolled in High School. For two years all her spare time was spent working to pay the school fees.

During volunteer visits to the local hospital, she met a man who helped to fund the rest of her schooling.

Betty and her husband purchased land at the base of Mt Wilhelm in 1987.

She grew vegetables to raise funds to renovate the property, and so Betty’s Lodge was born. Not content with running a highly successful lodge, Betty began a trout farm.

Betty has always been an advocate for Papua New Guinean women. She supplied seeds to women in her district so they could grow vegetables and earn an income by selling the vegetables to Betty’s Lodge. If they didn’t have their own land, she allowed them to use hers.

Betty hopes to inspire village women and teach them that through education and hard work, they can achieve anything in life.


Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority Newsletter. New Caledonia, National Fisheries Authority, Library and Information Unit, Policy and Programming Branch, 1997. p. 30 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Papua_New_Guinea_National_Fisheries_Auth/BLIfAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 (more here if really want to go after it.....)

Supported by a technical team from the Highlands Provincial Government fisheries development section & the inspection section from the National Fisheries Authority. Started this project in 1987, main idea was to plant and develop higly ___ vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus to cater for the local super markets and hotels. Worked for about 7 years till poor infrastructure for vegetable marketing and lots of competition


https://postcourier.com.pg/mt-wilhelm-entrepreneur-paves-way-for-business/

12/2019 ( https://png.embassy.gov.au/pmsb/1081.html)

Betty Higgins owns a Trout Farm and Lodge at the base of picturesque and remote Mt Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea. 

She sells trout to hotels across the country. 

Her family offers treks up Mt Wilhelm, and visitors stay at her lodge.

Betty is well-known and respected across PNG - deeply driven by contributing to the development of Papua New Guinea, and by inspiring other women – especially young women.

Betty participant in the Laikim Sister pilot program. Laikim Sister is an initiative of the Australian Government under PNG-Australia Partnership which looks to connect Indigenous Australian and PNG women entrepreneurs through a grassroots business exchange.

Betty started as a poor child.  -- Her mother ran away when she was young, and she lived with her Grandmother.  What her Grandmother may have lacked in money, she made up for with love for Betty and her sister.  Despite being poor, Betty still really wanted to go to school – so much so that she would work during the school breaks to be able to afford her own tuition.

--school exposed her to positive female role models.  She was taught by female teachers and nuns, and when she went to the dispensary, she was looked after by female nurses.  Perhaps, this was where Betty’s own drive for inspiring young women was born.

Betty and her husband bought the land at Mt Wilhelm in the 90s.

First, she built a vegetable business from her land, selling to big hotels and supermarkets all over the country.  She would drive her vegetables to Lae and Rabaul, but it became dangerous along the Highlands highway, and Betty was held up by rascals 4 times. 

Her husband told her that enough was enough, she wasn’t safe and had to stop.  After that, she only sold at the local markets.

Betty decided to venture into trout farming: travelled to Goroka trout farm to ask how to start a trout farm business.  When that turned up nothing, she went to National Fisheries Association to ask for help, and they sent me to the Snowy Mountains in Australia to observe a successful trout farm in Tumut.

They imported their first batch of fish eggs from Tasmania in 1993 but didn’t succeed in growing fish until 1996.

“Finally, in our fourth year I had a breakthrough, fertilized the eggs and they hatched.  I wanted to go to Moresby and share [with the National Fisheries Association] to get help. But I couldn’t afford to, so they sent a delegation to my farm!”

Betty proved to them that it could work.  She’d been able to grow fish by herself through trial and error, she would start small scale, and she’d even farm worms for feed to save money on importing feed.

Her ingenuity didn’t stop there.  She saw the potential of her land at the base of Mt Wilhelm and the opportunity to build a lodge providing tours and accommodation to visitors.

She was inspired by Lina Singut, owner of Tamba Wut.  Her business is focused on preserving the culture, knowledge and crafts of the women from the Middle Sepik.

--Betty saw potential for other business opportunities in her community that would create jobs – true to her mission of developing her nation.


http://content.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,2096813,00.html

Oct. 13, 2011

former Air Niugini flight attendant who spent decades jetting around the globe

Now on 40 hectares of woodland near the village of Kegesugl. There she built a home, trout farm and the informal B&B that is Betty's Lodge.

Set at the base of Mount Wilhelm, which at 4,509 m is one of the country's highest peaks, Kegesugl offers nature in the raw.

The area -- difficulty and danger in getting there. From the capital Port Moresby, a one-hour flight to Mount Hagen Airport is followed by a nail-biting two-hour drive along the Highlands Highway and the dreaded three-hour, 45-km haul up the Kegesugl Road — a warren of boulder fields, landslips and impromptu roadblocks set up by toll-collecting local gangs.

Down but not out after the recent passing of her husband — and a landslide that washed away most of her beloved trout farm —

Now 52 years old


https://emtv.com.pg/farmers-in-mt-wilhelm-affected-by-blocked-roads-caused-by-landslides/

10/06/2020

landslide -- keeps farmers from getting products out and hurting business

breeds trout, supplies resturaunts and hotels but also supplies fingerlings to other fish farmers throught E, W, and S Highlands Provinces

heavy rains --> landlide in April 2020


https://www.looppng.com/tags/betty-higgins

May 2020

Landlide blocked road access "yet to be cleared"


https://www.google.com/books/edition/Report_on_Women_s_Voices_in_the_Food_Cha/dCjtAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=betty+higgins+png+OR+papua+OR+westpac&dq=betty+higgins+png+OR+papua+OR+westpac&printsec=frontcover

second indication that women's voices in the food chain is important to her

Samantha Maria Andreas
2009 Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Betty Higgins
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector Award Mary Handen
Daltron Entrepreneur Award winner Betty Higgins
Cardno Acil Public Sector Award Dr. Rona Nebita Nadile
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Tessie Soi
IBBM Young Achievers’ Award Monica Pomat
2011 Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Sarah Haoda Todd
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Sarah Haoda Todd
PricewaterHouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Award Monica Toisenegila
Mineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) Public Sector Award Naomi Faik-Simet
Young Achiever’s Award Sylvia Pascoe
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Rosemary Vartuam Sovek
2012 Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Susil Nelson
Steamship Public Sector Award Eleina Butuna
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Helam Koaik
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Naime Tom
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Mary Pohei
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Florence Lou Willie
2013 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Maria Linibi
Steamship Public Sector Award Dr Mobumo Kiromat
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Sarah Shelley
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Dorish Cheryl Mondo Mulas
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Maria Linibi
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Anthonia Apurel
2014 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Lesieli Taviri
Steamship Public Sector Award Esther Roibete Apuahe
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Christina Josephine Cragnolini
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Mazzella Maniwavie
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Penny Sage-embo
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Lesieli Taviri
2015 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Janet Sape
Steamship Public Sector Award Janet Sios
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Joyce Kiage
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Michelle Boyama
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Beverly Pambali-Piawu
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Janet Sape
Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector Award Dr. Evelyn Lavu
Moore Printing Sport Award Veitu Diro
2016 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Bosa Togs
Steamship Public Sector Award Dorothy Lamin Koch-Waluta
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Rita Jaima Paru
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Jacqueline Joseph
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Annastascia Wanasawo
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Bosa Togs
Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector Award Dr Lutty Amos
Moore Printing Sport Award Julienne Leka-Maliaki
2017-2018 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Ruth Jewels Kissam
Precinct Public Sector Award Mollina Mercy Kapal
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Dorothy Luana
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Crystal Kewe
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Ruth Kissam
Steamships Not For Profit Award Priscilla Kevin
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Karo Lelai
Moore Printing Sport Award Cybele Druma
2019 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Raylance Mesa
Exxon Mobile PNGLNG Public Sector Award Betty Jacobs
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Vani Nades
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Raylance Mesa
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Freda Yakio
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Hillary Turnamur
Moore Printing Sport Award Margaret Aka
Steamships Not For Profit Award Petra Arfeae

________________________________________

Impact??

________________________________________

The Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Award recognizes exceptional professional work of women in Paupa New Giunea. Since its inception in 2006, the Award recognizes the achievements of individual women in multiple categories, each of whom then becomes a finalist for the overall WOW Award. In the face of acknowledged gender inequity in the country, ( http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/PNG,

https://emtv.com.pg/westpac-outstanding-women-wow-award

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/19/papua-new-guinea-spiralling-violence), the WOW Awards calls attention to the crucial and highly skilled work done by women across a number of sectors. The WOW Awards support the belief that investment in women leads to stronger economic outcomes for a nation as a whole, and strives to provide role models for the girls and women of the country.


Westpac Paupa New Gunea, a subsidiary of Westpac Banking Corporation of Australia, is the primary sponsor of the award. Other companies who have joined in sponsoring one or more awards over the years include Steamships, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Moore Printing, IBBM, Trukai, Precint, SP Brewery, Pacific Assurance Group, and ExonnMobile. Typically, these companies give k25,000 to sponsor a prize, which support each finalist in continuing their work ( https://www.thenational.com.pg/wow-awards-receive-support/, https://postcourier.com.pg/sp-gives-k25000-women-awards/, https://www.looppng.com/content/sp-brewery-backs-westpac%E2%80%99s-entrepreneur-award


The Wow Awards extend a call for nominations each year, and filed an average of 70-80 nominations annually.

Learning about recipients

https://www.spc.int/updates/blog/2018/05/a-conversation-with-michelle-boyama-master-for-cruise-ship-moresby-chief-in

https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/equal-pay-campaigner-honoured-at-png-outstanding/7958924

Bosa Togs- Telikom PNG, where she is the general manager of IT. 2016 equal pay


https://emtv.com.pg/westpac-outstanding-women-wow-award

2018 was 11th year

sponsord by Westpac PNG

noted growing class of highly skilled and dedicated women

wanted to celebrate but also make stories available as role models

recognition of professional achievements and successes

--public, private, ngo sector and starting business venture

"oldest and most prestigious award for omen in PNG"

average 70-80 nominations/year

This article also lists all categories


https://www.ktf.ngo/news/2019/3/12/westpac-outstanding-women-awards-announced

range of categories including not-for-profit, public and private sectors, sporting and young achievers.


http://emtv.com.pg/11th-westpac-outstanding-womens-award/

investment in women has good economic outcomes and they make good managers


Sponsored by WestPac, but also by Steamships, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Moore Printing, IBBM, Trukai, Precint, SP Brewery


https://www.thenational.com.pg/westpac-announces-2015-women%E2%80%99s-awards/

Pacific Assurance Group


Spark, Ceridwen. The New Port Moresby: Gender, Space, and Belonging in Urban Papua New Guinea. United States, University of Hawaii Press, 2020.

P.88

Founded in 2006


https://postcourier.com.pg/women-wow-nation/

https://postcourier.com.pg/raylance-scoops-overall-wow-award-2019/

ExonnMobile


Award recipients

2007-2008

  • Samantha Maria Andreas -- Young Achievers

2009

Overall Westpac Women in Business Award: Betty Higgins [1]

  • Mary Handen -- PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector Award [2] [1]
  • Betty Higgins -- Daltron Entrepreneur Award winner [1]
  • Dr Rona Nebita Nadile -- Cardno Acil Public Sector Award [1]
  • Tessie Soi -- Trukai Community Responsibility Award [1]
  • Monica Pomat -- IBBM Young Achievers’ Award [1]

Higgins, as the overall winner, received a trip to attend one of the Westpac Women’s Markets “Learn, Lead & Succeed” events in Australia as well as K2,800 in gift credit at a major domestic department store. The winners in each category also received a trip to the 2010 Australia/PNG Business Forum in Australia. [1]

2011

Overall Westpac Women in Business Award: Sarah Haoda Todd [3]

  • Sarah Haoda Todd: SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award [3]
  • Monica Toisenegila: PricewaterHouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Award [3]
  • Naomi Faik-Simet: Mineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) Public Sector Award [3]
  • Sylvia Pascoe: Young Achiever’s Award [3]
  • Rosemary Vartuam Sovek: Trukai Community Responsibility Award [3] The 10 finalists each received Digicel gift packs and K1,000 shopping voucher each from Brian Bell. The five award winners also received a BlackBerry handset each and K100 credit from Digicel and K2,000 shopping each from Daltron. The overall Westpac women in business award winner also received all-expenses paid trip to Australia to attend Westpac’s women’s market workshop.

The overall winner, Sarah Haoda Todd, won a scholarship worth more than K26,000. [4]

2012

  • Eleina Butuna:
  • Steamship Public Sector Award
  • Helam Koaik won the SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award;
  • Naime Tom won the IBBM Young Achiever’s Award;
  • Mary Pohei won the Trukai Community Responsibility Award; and
  • Florence Lou Willie won the PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards.


  • {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Award !Winner !Reason |- |2007-2008 |Young Achievers |Samantha Maria Andreas | |- |2009 |Overall |Betty Higgins [5] | |- |2010 | | | |- |2011 | | | |- |2012 | | | |- |2013 | | | |- | | | | |- | | | | |} Steamship Public Sector Award
  • Helam Koaik won the SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award;
  • Naime Tom won the IBBM Young Achiever’s Award;
  • Mary Pohei won the Trukai Community Responsibility Award; and
  • Florence Lou Willie won the PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kewei, Cynthia (2009-10-23). "Women shine at the 2009 Westpac Women in Business Awards" (PDF). Westpac.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  2. ^ "Mother inspires daughters". The National. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2021-01-17.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Westpac names winners of WIB awards". The National. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2021-01-18.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  4. ^ "Women in business awards launched". The National. 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2021-01-18.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  5. ^ Kewei, Cynthia (2009-10-23). "Women shine at the 2009 Westpac Women in Business Awards" (PDF). Westpac.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Susil Nelson-Kongoi

https://vimeo.com/441889193

Pawa Meri Save Meri Skulim Meri

From _____ Province


Involved with these entities: https://pngiportal.org/search/?q=SUSIL+NELSON


http://www.techinpacific.com/susil-nelson-kongoi-named-one-png-rare-birds-global-ambassadors/

The Inspiring Rare Birds program is a social impact initiative that helps to promote opportunities for women in entrepreneurship and leadership. Susil and the other five PNG women leaders met Jo Burston during their visit to Australia earlier this year under the Women in Leadership Fellowship. They were invited to the launching of the Rare Birds program.

The program is supported by the Australian Government and Papua New Guinea, aims at strengthen the relationship in women empowerment between the two countries.

Being the Public Policy and Issues Manager herself, Susil is very passionate about developing women and how to provide them with necessary skills, especially in the industry of energy where she works in.

“It’s really important to have spirit where you don’t give up and look for opportunities that might be just mentioning to someone in conversations where I am at and ‘this is my problems’. They might refer you to someone else, but I feel like you have to talk about it and tell other people. That’s where the opportunity comes.”

Besides Susil, the other two Ambassadors are Vani Nades, the Founder and CEO of Emstret Holdings Limited; and Fredrick Tamarua, the Principal Legal Officer at Department of Justice and Attorney General at Office of the State Solicitor.


https://www.abc.net.au/abc-international-development/leading-the-way-for-png-women-in-business/11532014

Fri 20 Sep 2019, 10:48am

Susil Nelson-Kongoi is one of only a handful of women working in Papua New Guinea's oil and gas industry.

Despite being part of the minority, Susil has fiercely worked her way through the ranks to the position of senior executive at ExxonMobil PNG.

Susil has an enormous passion and drive to see more women enter the industry, and trains others to ensure she doesn't remain the minority. Watch her story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxYep5HKCOE


http://incentivefund.org/about/incentive-fund-board

Both Governments congratulate Susil Nelson-Kongoi for recently being nominated as the first ever female Chair of the Incentive Fund’s SMG. The Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership is proud to support women in leadership.

Susil Nelson-Kongoi is a highly experienced Corporate Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the program development industry. In her current role as Public Policy and Issues Manager with ExxonMobil, Susil uses all of her skills in government, policy analysis, risk management, strategic planning, and community development.

She has served on the Incentive Fund’s Strategic Management Group since 2015 and now in her role as Chair, brings strong program and project management experience, coupled with her advanced knowledge of accounting and information systems. She has served on many boards and committees, studied in New Zealand, Australia and Papua New Guinea, and is dedicated to supporting the ongoing development of PNG.

(The Incentive Fund is a PNG-Australia Partnership initiative, providing high-performing organisations with grants to improve service delivery and/or provide economic opportunities for the people of PNG.)


https://www.pngcci.org.pg/pngcci-executives/

PNG Camber of commerce and industry

Board Coordination : Susil Nelson-Kongoi


http://www.bcpng.org.pg/board

MS SUSIL NELSON-KONGOI - VICE PRESIDENT INTERNATIONAL

Westpac Business Woman of the Year for 2012, Susil is a leader in the new generation of PNG professional women. She was recognized for her contribution to local business through her work with the PNG Sustainable Development Program.  Susil is an active member of the Business and Professional Women's Club, focusing on building a strong network for women and supporting educational opportunities for women and girls in PNG. She is also Honorary Treasurer on the Board of Coalition For Change, which is a local organization dedicated to achieving cultural change in PNG, where violence especially spousal violence and violence against children is not tolerated and the rights of women and children are respected.

The Coalition for Change made a landmark milestone achievement in 2013 having the Family Protection Bill passed as an Act of Parliament on 18th September 2013.  Susil is also Vice President of the PNG Women’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PNGWCCI).  PNGWWCI aims to empower and strengthen women entrepreneurs and leaders by building capacity, creating business networks, advocating innovation, and creating wealth and prosperity in an enabling environment.

More recently Susil has been involved with various activities that promote education and activism to encourage young women into leadership roles.  Some of these projects include the Pawa Meri Project a documentary series of films about six women leaders in PNG.  Pawa Meri is aimed at educating and inspiring young women and school-aged girls about career paths and to become leaders.  Developing the Decie Autin Scholarship to be launched in 2015.  The scholarship aims to increase the number of PNG Women in the field of engineering.

Susil currently works for ExxonMobil as National Content Manager responsible for stewarding and reporting on 3 main components of national content - workforce development (recruitment of Papua New Guinean employees and training programs), supplier development (development and use of qualified local vendors for supply of goods and services) and strategic community developments (investments in health, education and infrastructure that aids the development of local capabilities and improves socioeconomic environment for communities)

Susil is an accomplished leader who can inspire others to follow.



Speaks regularly: https://www.apacoutlookmag.com/industry-insights/article/634-papua-new-guinea-petroleum-energy-summit

https://pacificwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/2019-Annual-Learning-Workshop-Report.pdf

Ms Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Senior Executive, ExxonMobil PNG and vice President of the Business Council of Papua New Guinea provided the first keynote address. Ms Nelson-Kongoi spoke about her work supporting local organisations and women to achieve economic empowerment. She emphasised that we all have a responsibility to reach back and pull others up with us. Ms Nelson-Kongoi spoke of the importance of encouraging young women to enter science, technology, engineering and maths fields and the support provided though the Business Professional Women’s Club of Papua New Guinea Scholarships program.


Learn more about this and figure out what to do with it: http://www.ibbm.com.pg/newmember/


Successful Women’s Coalitions in Papua New Guinea and Malaysia: Feminism, Friendships and Social Change

Ceridwen Spark and Julian C. H. Lee

January 2018

BPW’s contributions over more than thirty years have led to their members ‘having a place at the table’ when it comes to debates about gender equity in PNG. For example, BPW’s chairperson Susil Nelson has taken part in round tables with Hilary Clinton and other high-profile international visitors. She also plays a leading role among local groups advocating gender equality,including serving as a board member on the Business Coalition forWomen (formed in 2014),as theVice President of the Business Council of PNG, and as the Vice President of the PNG Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industr y.

P5

BPW has always sought to ensure that scholarship recipients become members of the club to expand their networks and knowledge.This strategy has proved successful, completing the ‘full circle’ in which the girls who are supported with scholar- ships join BPW and contribute to raising funds to support others. It is a strategy that also ensures intergenerational contact and continuity. According to the current chairperson, Susil Nelson, ‘there are now more Papua New Guineans then there are expatriates’.

P5

Susil Nelson says that meetings provide important opportunities for networking and informal mentoring:

When you attend a monthly meeting, you meet other women and make those connections and they can also assist in terms of mentoring or being role models and that’s easier once you’ve met them to be able to ask them questions or get a contact with them.The sort of environment that we try to foster is one that can also lead to other interaction outside of that monthly meeting.

According to Nelson, these interactions lead to employment opportunities because employers are aware of the coalition’s work and give preference to BPW members when hiring. Diane Kala, a one-time recipient, now a member, supported this: ‘[BPW] can use their networks to get you on board to actually do something with your qualification’.

P6

Moreover, as a result of its strong positive reputation, BPW is regularly asked to work with other women’s coalitions and to participate in high-level discussions about promoting gender equity in PNG, including for example, Susil Nelson’s participation in a forum with Hilary Clinton and her role on the board of the Business Coalition for Women.The club is also affiliated with the Coalition for Change (CfC) whose mission is ‘to work towards achieving cultural change in PNG, where violence especially spousal violence and violence against children is not tolerated and the rights of women and children are respected’. Consequently, while the coalition is led by elite, well-connected and influential women, these same women see themselves as understanding the challenges faced by less well positioned Papua New Guinean women because they are involved with them through the work they do.While they are open to working with some of the emerging women’s coalitions, Bonas says that BPW first makes sure ‘that it’s an organisation that we want to be associated with’.

Outcomes

Susil Nelson and Judith Bona say that because everything has been run by volunteers, BPW ‘don’t actually have numbers for how many girls we’ve funded since inception’ nor have they been able to track the career progress and influence of scholarship recipients. However, recent scholarship figures are available and these show that between 2011 and 2014, BPW funded education for 600 girls and women to the value of 500,000 PNG Kina (AUS $250,000). Since the introduction of the tuition free policy, BPW have supported girls and women to attend university, technical colleges, business schools,TAFE, nursing school and teachers’ colleges. In 2013 alone, 60 girls were supported to attend Don Bosco Technical Institute, from which graduates emerge with the skills to fix cars, computers and other electronic devices.


https://pacificprecinct.org/discussion-events/apec-discussion-series/women-in-leadership/

Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct

Papua New Guinea - Australia Partnership

Women in Leadership

Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Dr Sharman Stone led a panel discussion on public policy and strategies that can support women in leadership in Papua New Guinea.

Panellists included Dr Eric Kwa, then-Secretary of the Constitutional Law Reform Commission; Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Public Policy and Issues Manager at ExxonMobil; Kessy Sawang, a candidate in 2017 Papua New Guinea National Election; and Ivan Pomaleu, Papua New Guinea’s APEC Ambassador.


https://png.embassy.gov.au/pmsb/562.html

The Governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea are currently assessing grant proposals for the funding of new development projects under the PGK150 million Incentive Fund Phase IV (IF4).

An initial meeting of the Strategic Management Group, which contributes to informing the grants review process, has been held in Wewak in East Sepik Province. The Strategic Management Group comprises independent members including newly elected chairperson Valentine Kambori, Dame Carol Kidu and Susil Nelson–Kongoi, working together with representatives from the PNG Government through the Ministry of National Planning and the Australian Government through the Australian High Commission.



https://oglinks.news/exxonmobil/news/group-supports-women-in-education

THE Port Moresby Business and Professional Women (BPW) club aims to build a strong network and support for women in education, president Susil Nelson says.

Nelson said the support to education for women and girls in the country was Business and Professional Women’s contribution to gender parity, made through a small group of women who volunteer their time to ensure the success of the scholarship programme.

She said since its establishment the club was able to provide more than K1 million through its scholarship programme that had seen more than 1600 girls further their education in different professional fields.

Speaking at a Business and Professional Women breakfast yesterday to celebrate International Women’s Day, Nelson said last year BPW awarded 391 scholarships valued at more than K215,000 for women and girls, enrolled in over 24 institutions in the country.


https://www.thenational.com.pg/awards-boost-women-says-nelson/

2016

SUSIL Nelson, a former winner of the Westpac Outstanding Women awards (WOW), says it has been a boost to women who strive to become agents of change in the community.

Nelson, who compered the 10th WOW awards in Port Moresby last Friday, said she benefited a lot from the awards.

“Ten years ago, there was no annual gathering of this kind. But there was certainly a growing class of high achieving women making strides across Papua New Guinea,” Nelson said.

“Westpac noticed these female trail-blazers and wanted to thank them and put them up on a pedestal – honouring their individual achievements, but more than that, providing role models for other women and girls.”

She said Westpac through the WOW not only recognised individual achievements but providing role models for all the women and girls.

Nelson was a WOW Businesswoman of the Year award winner.

“The award enabled me to go down to Sydney to attend the women’s leadership dialogue. It was fantastic because I met some of the powerful women in Australia,” she said. “When I came back, it was like there is so much to do.

“I guess one of things about being one of the past WOW winners is that it recognises what you are already doing. So when you get that recognition it actually helps you to do better.

“It is amazing because not only that, you have these other women who are just as fantastic as finalists.

“So what you find out is you connect to the other women and help them.

“When you help somebody step up, it actually helps you to rise as well.

“So that is what I learnt from being a past award winner.

“It keeps getting better because you get selected to go and inspire other women on occasions like this.

“I know it can be daunting (to be a) finalist but just say yes and do it and you can figure it out and you will find out that you have the courage to do it.

“So keep what you are doing, God will lift you up.”


https://www.thenational.com.pg/nelson-wins-westpac-wib-award/

2012

SUSIL Nelson, the manager for corporate governance in the PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP), last night won the Westpac Women in Business Award for 2012.

Nelson did not win her corporate category, that went to Florence Lou Willie, but she took the overall award from nine other finalists in five categories at the Gateway Hotel.

“I am humbled and at the same time excited to be in your midst to receive the Westpac Women in Business Awards,” a beaming Nelson said.

“I never thought I would win such an award, let alone be a finalist among such accomplished and inspiring women tonight.”

Nelson said she did not think she would win but later expressed her gratitude to everyone who had supported her and had faith in her.

Nelson was one of the two finalists in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards, along with Willie.

She said she believed in personal integrity.

She urged women who had the opportunity to be educated to have a sense of duty to care and empower, set an example, mentor, inspire and motivate the next generation of Papua New Guineans to be the best at what they did or wanted to achieve.

Nelson has volunteered her services to community organisations such as Business and Professional Women’s Club and Coalition for Change.

“I am inspired and motivated to know that contribution of my knowledge, skills and time is changing a woman’s life for the better,” she said.


https://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/07/06/women-challenge-glass-ceilings-in-papua-new-guinea/

“Pawa Meri” — “power women”.

try to teach women to grab opportunities that arise and run with it


https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/27012017/papua-new-guinea-petroleum-energy-summit-confirms-speaker-line-up/

  • Susil Nelson-Kongoi (National Content Manager, ExxonMobil PNG).
  • Friday, 27 January 2017 09:15


https://www.dlprog.org/opinions/education-against-the-odds-the-work-of-a-women-s-coalition-in-papua-new-guinea

current club President Susil Nelson - the Port Moresby chapter of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW).

-well-connected with corporate sponsors and this means that BPW has been able to step up its support for the education of girls and women.


https://www.dfat.gov.au/news/speeches/Pages/140310-int-womens-day-stokes

I would like to acknowledge the work of the Port Moresby Business and Professional Women's Club, and to thank its members – and in particular its President, Susil Nelson – for the important work they do in promoting gender equality and in organising this annual International Women's Day breakfast.

Address at an International Women's Day Breakfast, 10 March 2014


Spark, Ceridwen. The New Port Moresby: Gender, Space, and Belonging in Urban Papua New Guinea. United States, University of Hawaii Press, 2020.

p39

Worked at PGN SUstainable Development

subject of film _Save Meri_

Nelson unusual because live in an urban area and work as a professional inthe formal sector

--not a typical life

--but part of a growing trend of studying overseas and returning to reintegrate into PNG -- but a challenge as she cannot inheret foather's land or status in Sepik (tribe??) culture

--warm relationship with extended family


https://pnglng.com/Newsroom/Media-Release/ExxonMobil-launches-cookbook-to-raise-funds-for-wo

30 May 2013

“BPW helps young women seeking to further their education through a scholarship program.

“The funds from the sale of the cookbook will assist disadvantaged women and girls wishing to attend tertiary institutions and colleges,” Ms Nelson said.

“BPW would like to thank ExxonMobil for their support.”

BPW was established in Port Moresby in 1982 and is a local non-government organisation. BPW empowers women through education and assists hundreds of Papua New Guinean girls and women each year, who would otherwise not have been able to continue with their education through providing scholarships.


https://www.businessadvantagepng.com/in-brief-porgera-mine-to-continue-operations-and-other-business-stories/

2019

o Burston, Founder of Inspiring Rare Birds, a company that aims to improve women’s economic security through different programs, announced three ambassadors for PNG last week—Vani Nades, Founder and CEO Emstreet Holdings Limited, Susil Nelson-Kongoi, Public Policy and Issues Manager for ExxonMobil PNG, and Frederick Tamrua, Principal Legal Officer (International Law)-Department of Justice and Attorney General, Office of the State Solicitor.

The mentors joining Inspiring Rare Birds’ Ambassador Program in PNG will be mentoring women entrepreneurs to help them grown their businesses.



betty higgins

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Election_2007/GapBAQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=betty+higgins+png+OR+papua+OR+westpac&pg=PA409&printsec=frontcover

early life bio

P.409

Born Goroka 1958,

Eldest child of parents - Gende (tribe??)

father: Ruge Angiva ("houseboy") -- hometown Yandera, oldest male in his generation

--when Betty was a toddler, brought her and two pregnant wives back to Yandera

*his father near death, so took over running household

* got lots of help from father's younger brothers to get gardening land & brideprice --> third wife

  • also paid off Elizabeth's brideprice and "childwealth payments" for Betty's generation
  • in return,uncles would expect help with brideprices for their kids and also some of profit from Ruge's daughters brideprices

mother: Elizabeth -- second wife

--important roll model for Betty

--center of Goroka migrant community (many people came to town to make their fortune)

--taught

--fluent in Pidgin

--not afraid of white people, trained newcomers in how to work successfully in white people's households

--generous, took in and supported Ruge's clan brothers

got attention from parents and fathers' clan brothers

--shared an urban household

--uncles babysat her a lot while her mother worked for white families (or gambled for money??)

P410

Education: Elizabeth enrolled Betty and her sister in a boarding school in Bundi

--uncles thought it would create bad morals for two girls to live independently and far from family

--mom came to visit weekly, dad kind of avoided getting involved

--Betty really enjoyed school and dorm life

Mother left father, but before working off her brideprice as expected. Betty did not go with her, but stayed at school. Left Betty on her own. Father would not support, but maternal grandmother and other women did. When it was time for high school, would need to travel to the coast to attend - dad wanted her to stop schooling and come home to work the garden, pay off debt of her mother's brideprice. Other women got enough money for a plane ticket to get Betty to school, but she had no money for tuition. Head of school arranged housecleaning jobs at faculty homes to pay for tuition.

High school was lonely, felt abandoned by parents

Used to go to Madang hospital and visit children there. - brought fruit and flowers for the other children who seemed loneley

--one visit, passed the room of a white man who looked sad. she was scared of him: put flowers in his room and ran away; next visit, nurse brought her in to see him bc it had been his birthday and she had cheered him up

--they got to talking and he wanted to help her -- took her to Australia to enroll in HS, paid for tuition and living expenses; later man's family traveled to England and Betty went with them

Air Niugini : After high school got job as flight attendant -- traveled around PNG and to other Pacific countries. Also had a company-owned apartment where she lived. Saw a lot of the world and developed a skill set and knowledge set that was somewhat unusual for PNG. Also developed the attitude that expatriate men were kinder and more generous.

p411

--met first husband on a flight to Australia (he was Australian): Father-in-law lived in Port Morsby and worked as a car dealer, had a large home and Betty moved in there.

--ran household and budget, followed mother's example and welcomed Gende people into their home - quite regular, caused tension

Reunited her parents while working as a flight attendant -- their common visits to married household also caused tenstion with husband and FIL

--demanded a brdeprice

--betty sent parents back to village, saying she wanted to be her own woman and pay or herself

Daughter, Lisa, named after wife of a local Chinese resturuant owner -- couple were her good friends. Often took daughter to travel around Asia Pacific

--Betty was still working as flight attendant, so asked younge sister to come and care for Lisa -- mother also came, saying she was better prepared to care for a child but also had usurious motivations

--Her father also believed that he was Betty's head of household, so her married family's wealth and home were his; sent people from hometown to see her/stay in "his home"

*She did have a certain amount of obligation to hr father, if she ever wanted to return home but also found it ironic that he claimed these rights when he had not supported her schooling

Husband ha substance abuse problems so she moved out to company appartments again, and then dated. Eventually married another Australian, Ken, an Engineer at Yonki dam iste in Eastern Highlands Province

--supported Betty in returning to village to raise children and start a business

*Newly connected to outside world with a drywhether road

*Use husband's money to buy a truck and other supplies to start a coffee buying business

p412


by 1994 raising trout and chickens





https://www.westpac.com.au/docs/pdf/aw/Winners-Women-in-Business-2009-Final.pdf

Overall winner of the 2009 Westpac Women in Business Awards & Daltron Entrepreneur Award winner

Owner and Manager of Betty’s Lodge and Mt Wilehem Trout farm

As a young girl, her father wanted her to have an arranged marriage, and advised that if she wanted to go to high school she would need to earn the $20 for school fees each year. With just $1 in her pocket and the dress she was wearing, she arrived in Madang, and enrolled in High School. For two years all her spare time was spent working to pay the school fees.

During volunteer visits to the local hospital, she met a man who helped to fund the rest of her schooling.

Betty and her husband purchased land at the base of Mt Wilhelm in 1987.

She grew vegetables to raise funds to renovate the property, and so Betty’s Lodge was born. Not content with running a highly successful lodge, Betty began a trout farm.

Betty has always been an advocate for Papua New Guinean women. She supplied seeds to women in her district so they could grow vegetables and earn an income by selling the vegetables to Betty’s Lodge. If they didn’t have their own land, she allowed them to use hers.

Betty hopes to inspire village women and teach them that through education and hard work, they can achieve anything in life.


Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority Newsletter. New Caledonia, National Fisheries Authority, Library and Information Unit, Policy and Programming Branch, 1997. p. 30 https://www.google.com/books/edition/Papua_New_Guinea_National_Fisheries_Auth/BLIfAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 (more here if really want to go after it.....)

Supported by a technical team from the Highlands Provincial Government fisheries development section & the inspection section from the National Fisheries Authority. Started this project in 1987, main idea was to plant and develop higly ___ vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus to cater for the local super markets and hotels. Worked for about 7 years till poor infrastructure for vegetable marketing and lots of competition


https://postcourier.com.pg/mt-wilhelm-entrepreneur-paves-way-for-business/

12/2019 ( https://png.embassy.gov.au/pmsb/1081.html)

Betty Higgins owns a Trout Farm and Lodge at the base of picturesque and remote Mt Wilhelm in Papua New Guinea. 

She sells trout to hotels across the country. 

Her family offers treks up Mt Wilhelm, and visitors stay at her lodge.

Betty is well-known and respected across PNG - deeply driven by contributing to the development of Papua New Guinea, and by inspiring other women – especially young women.

Betty participant in the Laikim Sister pilot program. Laikim Sister is an initiative of the Australian Government under PNG-Australia Partnership which looks to connect Indigenous Australian and PNG women entrepreneurs through a grassroots business exchange.

Betty started as a poor child.  -- Her mother ran away when she was young, and she lived with her Grandmother.  What her Grandmother may have lacked in money, she made up for with love for Betty and her sister.  Despite being poor, Betty still really wanted to go to school – so much so that she would work during the school breaks to be able to afford her own tuition.

--school exposed her to positive female role models.  She was taught by female teachers and nuns, and when she went to the dispensary, she was looked after by female nurses.  Perhaps, this was where Betty’s own drive for inspiring young women was born.

Betty and her husband bought the land at Mt Wilhelm in the 90s.

First, she built a vegetable business from her land, selling to big hotels and supermarkets all over the country.  She would drive her vegetables to Lae and Rabaul, but it became dangerous along the Highlands highway, and Betty was held up by rascals 4 times. 

Her husband told her that enough was enough, she wasn’t safe and had to stop.  After that, she only sold at the local markets.

Betty decided to venture into trout farming: travelled to Goroka trout farm to ask how to start a trout farm business.  When that turned up nothing, she went to National Fisheries Association to ask for help, and they sent me to the Snowy Mountains in Australia to observe a successful trout farm in Tumut.

They imported their first batch of fish eggs from Tasmania in 1993 but didn’t succeed in growing fish until 1996.

“Finally, in our fourth year I had a breakthrough, fertilized the eggs and they hatched.  I wanted to go to Moresby and share [with the National Fisheries Association] to get help. But I couldn’t afford to, so they sent a delegation to my farm!”

Betty proved to them that it could work.  She’d been able to grow fish by herself through trial and error, she would start small scale, and she’d even farm worms for feed to save money on importing feed.

Her ingenuity didn’t stop there.  She saw the potential of her land at the base of Mt Wilhelm and the opportunity to build a lodge providing tours and accommodation to visitors.

She was inspired by Lina Singut, owner of Tamba Wut.  Her business is focused on preserving the culture, knowledge and crafts of the women from the Middle Sepik.

--Betty saw potential for other business opportunities in her community that would create jobs – true to her mission of developing her nation.


http://content.time.com/time/travel/article/0,31542,2096813,00.html

Oct. 13, 2011

former Air Niugini flight attendant who spent decades jetting around the globe

Now on 40 hectares of woodland near the village of Kegesugl. There she built a home, trout farm and the informal B&B that is Betty's Lodge.

Set at the base of Mount Wilhelm, which at 4,509 m is one of the country's highest peaks, Kegesugl offers nature in the raw.

The area -- difficulty and danger in getting there. From the capital Port Moresby, a one-hour flight to Mount Hagen Airport is followed by a nail-biting two-hour drive along the Highlands Highway and the dreaded three-hour, 45-km haul up the Kegesugl Road — a warren of boulder fields, landslips and impromptu roadblocks set up by toll-collecting local gangs.

Down but not out after the recent passing of her husband — and a landslide that washed away most of her beloved trout farm —

Now 52 years old


https://emtv.com.pg/farmers-in-mt-wilhelm-affected-by-blocked-roads-caused-by-landslides/

10/06/2020

landslide -- keeps farmers from getting products out and hurting business

breeds trout, supplies resturaunts and hotels but also supplies fingerlings to other fish farmers throught E, W, and S Highlands Provinces

heavy rains --> landlide in April 2020


https://www.looppng.com/tags/betty-higgins

May 2020

Landlide blocked road access "yet to be cleared"


https://www.google.com/books/edition/Report_on_Women_s_Voices_in_the_Food_Cha/dCjtAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=betty+higgins+png+OR+papua+OR+westpac&dq=betty+higgins+png+OR+papua+OR+westpac&printsec=frontcover

second indication that women's voices in the food chain is important to her

Samantha Maria Andreas
2009 Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Betty Higgins
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector Award Mary Handen
Daltron Entrepreneur Award winner Betty Higgins
Cardno Acil Public Sector Award Dr. Rona Nebita Nadile
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Tessie Soi
IBBM Young Achievers’ Award Monica Pomat
2011 Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Sarah Haoda Todd
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Sarah Haoda Todd
PricewaterHouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Award Monica Toisenegila
Mineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) Public Sector Award Naomi Faik-Simet
Young Achiever’s Award Sylvia Pascoe
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Rosemary Vartuam Sovek
2012 Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Susil Nelson
Steamship Public Sector Award Eleina Butuna
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Helam Koaik
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Naime Tom
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Mary Pohei
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Florence Lou Willie
2013 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Maria Linibi
Steamship Public Sector Award Dr Mobumo Kiromat
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Sarah Shelley
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Dorish Cheryl Mondo Mulas
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Maria Linibi
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Anthonia Apurel
2014 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Lesieli Taviri
Steamship Public Sector Award Esther Roibete Apuahe
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Christina Josephine Cragnolini
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Mazzella Maniwavie
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Penny Sage-embo
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Lesieli Taviri
2015 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Janet Sape
Steamship Public Sector Award Janet Sios
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Joyce Kiage
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Michelle Boyama
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Beverly Pambali-Piawu
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Janet Sape
Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector Award Dr. Evelyn Lavu
Moore Printing Sport Award Veitu Diro
2016 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Bosa Togs
Steamship Public Sector Award Dorothy Lamin Koch-Waluta
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Rita Jaima Paru
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Jacqueline Joseph
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Annastascia Wanasawo
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Bosa Togs
Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector Award Dr Lutty Amos
Moore Printing Sport Award Julienne Leka-Maliaki
2017-2018 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Ruth Jewels Kissam
Precinct Public Sector Award Mollina Mercy Kapal
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Dorothy Luana
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Crystal Kewe
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Ruth Kissam
Steamships Not For Profit Award Priscilla Kevin
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Karo Lelai
Moore Printing Sport Award Cybele Druma
2019 Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Raylance Mesa
Exxon Mobile PNGLNG Public Sector Award Betty Jacobs
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Vani Nades
IBBM Young Achiever’s Award Raylance Mesa
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Freda Yakio
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Hillary Turnamur
Moore Printing Sport Award Margaret Aka
Steamships Not For Profit Award Petra Arfeae

________________________________________

Impact??

________________________________________

The Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Award recognizes exceptional professional work of women in Paupa New Giunea. Since its inception in 2006, the Award recognizes the achievements of individual women in multiple categories, each of whom then becomes a finalist for the overall WOW Award. In the face of acknowledged gender inequity in the country, ( http://www.hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/PNG,

https://emtv.com.pg/westpac-outstanding-women-wow-award

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jul/19/papua-new-guinea-spiralling-violence), the WOW Awards calls attention to the crucial and highly skilled work done by women across a number of sectors. The WOW Awards support the belief that investment in women leads to stronger economic outcomes for a nation as a whole, and strives to provide role models for the girls and women of the country.


Westpac Paupa New Gunea, a subsidiary of Westpac Banking Corporation of Australia, is the primary sponsor of the award. Other companies who have joined in sponsoring one or more awards over the years include Steamships, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Moore Printing, IBBM, Trukai, Precint, SP Brewery, Pacific Assurance Group, and ExonnMobile. Typically, these companies give k25,000 to sponsor a prize, which support each finalist in continuing their work ( https://www.thenational.com.pg/wow-awards-receive-support/, https://postcourier.com.pg/sp-gives-k25000-women-awards/, https://www.looppng.com/content/sp-brewery-backs-westpac%E2%80%99s-entrepreneur-award


The Wow Awards extend a call for nominations each year, and filed an average of 70-80 nominations annually.

Learning about recipients

https://www.spc.int/updates/blog/2018/05/a-conversation-with-michelle-boyama-master-for-cruise-ship-moresby-chief-in

https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/equal-pay-campaigner-honoured-at-png-outstanding/7958924

Bosa Togs- Telikom PNG, where she is the general manager of IT. 2016 equal pay


https://emtv.com.pg/westpac-outstanding-women-wow-award

2018 was 11th year

sponsord by Westpac PNG

noted growing class of highly skilled and dedicated women

wanted to celebrate but also make stories available as role models

recognition of professional achievements and successes

--public, private, ngo sector and starting business venture

"oldest and most prestigious award for omen in PNG"

average 70-80 nominations/year

This article also lists all categories


https://www.ktf.ngo/news/2019/3/12/westpac-outstanding-women-awards-announced

range of categories including not-for-profit, public and private sectors, sporting and young achievers.


http://emtv.com.pg/11th-westpac-outstanding-womens-award/

investment in women has good economic outcomes and they make good managers


Sponsored by WestPac, but also by Steamships, PriceWaterhouse Coopers, Moore Printing, IBBM, Trukai, Precint, SP Brewery


https://www.thenational.com.pg/westpac-announces-2015-women%E2%80%99s-awards/

Pacific Assurance Group


Spark, Ceridwen. The New Port Moresby: Gender, Space, and Belonging in Urban Papua New Guinea. United States, University of Hawaii Press, 2020.

P.88

Founded in 2006


https://postcourier.com.pg/women-wow-nation/

https://postcourier.com.pg/raylance-scoops-overall-wow-award-2019/

ExonnMobile


Award recipients

2007-2008

  • Samantha Maria Andreas -- Young Achievers

2009

Overall Westpac Women in Business Award: Betty Higgins [1]

  • Mary Handen -- PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector Award [2] [1]
  • Betty Higgins -- Daltron Entrepreneur Award winner [1]
  • Dr Rona Nebita Nadile -- Cardno Acil Public Sector Award [1]
  • Tessie Soi -- Trukai Community Responsibility Award [1]
  • Monica Pomat -- IBBM Young Achievers’ Award [1]

Higgins, as the overall winner, received a trip to attend one of the Westpac Women’s Markets “Learn, Lead & Succeed” events in Australia as well as K2,800 in gift credit at a major domestic department store. The winners in each category also received a trip to the 2010 Australia/PNG Business Forum in Australia. [1]

2011

Overall Westpac Women in Business Award: Sarah Haoda Todd [3]

  • Sarah Haoda Todd: SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award [3]
  • Monica Toisenegila: PricewaterHouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Award [3]
  • Naomi Faik-Simet: Mineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) Public Sector Award [3]
  • Sylvia Pascoe: Young Achiever’s Award [3]
  • Rosemary Vartuam Sovek: Trukai Community Responsibility Award [3] The 10 finalists each received Digicel gift packs and K1,000 shopping voucher each from Brian Bell. The five award winners also received a BlackBerry handset each and K100 credit from Digicel and K2,000 shopping each from Daltron. The overall Westpac women in business award winner also received all-expenses paid trip to Australia to attend Westpac’s women’s market workshop.

The overall winner, Sarah Haoda Todd, won a scholarship worth more than K26,000. [4]

2012

  • Eleina Butuna:
  • Steamship Public Sector Award
  • Helam Koaik won the SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award;
  • Naime Tom won the IBBM Young Achiever’s Award;
  • Mary Pohei won the Trukai Community Responsibility Award; and
  • Florence Lou Willie won the PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards.


  • {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Award !Winner !Reason |- |2007-2008 |Young Achievers |Samantha Maria Andreas | |- |2009 |Overall |Betty Higgins [5] | |- |2010 | | | |- |2011 | | | |- |2012 | | | |- |2013 | | | |- | | | | |- | | | | |} Steamship Public Sector Award
  • Helam Koaik won the SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award;
  • Naime Tom won the IBBM Young Achiever’s Award;
  • Mary Pohei won the Trukai Community Responsibility Award; and
  • Florence Lou Willie won the PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards.
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kewei, Cynthia (2009-10-23). "Women shine at the 2009 Westpac Women in Business Awards" (PDF). Westpac.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  2. ^ "Mother inspires daughters". The National. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2021-01-17.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Westpac names winners of WIB awards". The National. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2021-01-18.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  4. ^ "Women in business awards launched". The National. 2011-06-13. Retrieved 2021-01-18.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)
  5. ^ Kewei, Cynthia (2009-10-23). "Women shine at the 2009 Westpac Women in Business Awards" (PDF). Westpac.{{ cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status ( link)

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