ExxonMobil PNG supports women to attend global management workshop in Indonesia

Port Moresby: Nine Papua New Guinean women recently left for Jakarta, Indonesia, attending a five week business training program specifically designed for women from developing countries.   

The program, run by Plan International USA known as Global Women in Management (GWIM), is supported by operator of the PNG LNG Project, ExxonMobil PNG Limited under parent company ExxonMobil’s Women’s Economic Opportunity Initiative.

The nine women, Kore Tau, Elizabeth Taurega, Margaret Aila, Miriam Gai, Ruth Kissam, Theresa Gizoria, Miriam Layton, Shirley Iragali and Rita Paru are attending the workshop from 18 April to 13 May.  

The workshop brings together women from diverse cultures and countries to share, examine and adapt best practices worldwide for expanding women’s economic opportunities and meeting the needs of their communities and countries.

Strengthening competencies in project and financial management, proposal writing, leadership and advocacy are some of the skills that the women will learn during the workshop. 

On the eve of their departure to Indonesia, Margaret Aila could not contain her excitement.

“I am excited to attend the GWIM program,” said Margaret Aila.

“I thank ExxonMobil PNG for the opportunity to attend this leadership training and I hope to gather as much information as I could so I could share that with other women in my organisation when I return,” added Margaret Aila.

Tau Kore said she was looking forward to building her skills so she can come back and assist her community improve their livelihood.

Andrew Barry, Managing Director of ExxonMobil PNG congratulated the eight women on their selection to attend the workshop in Jakarta.

“Over the past five years, we have provided support for local women to participate in this program in Indonesia and Washington, DC, and they have made huge contributions to their communities on their return to Papua New Guinea. I am excited to see what the women who attend this year’s conference will achieve.”

“Supporting economic opportunities for women is one of the wisest investments we can make,” said Mr Barry.

Since 2006, 53 Papua New Guinean women have benefited from the GWIM training held in Indonesia, Washington D.C. and for the first time in PNG in 2014. This year attendees will bring the total to 62. 

The GWIM alumni recently established a secretariat, the Advancing PNG: Women Leaders Network, to ensure that women who attended the GWIM program continued to support each other and share ideas, to progressively influence positive change in Papua New Guinea.