Westpac Outstanding Women Award

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The Westpac Outstanding Women Awards (shortened to WOW Award) recognizes exceptional professional work of women in Papua New Guinea. [1] Since its inception in 2002, [2] when it was called the Westpac Women in Business Award, [3] the Award has recognized the achievements of individual women in multiple categories. Each category awardee then becomes a finalist for the overall WOW Award. [4] In the face of acknowledged gender inequity in the country, [5] [6] [1] [7] the WOW Awards call attention to the crucial and highly skilled work done by women across a number of sectors. [8] The winner of the WOW Award receives a grant to pursue a formal education, professional mentoring, opportunities for professional learning and networking at an Australian Executive Women's Leadership symposium, and a cash prize. [9] 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. [1] [4]

Contents

In 2025, after a five-year hiatus, Westpac Papua New Guinea relaunched its Westpac Outstanding Women Awards with a renewed strategy aimed at promoting gender equality and leadership development. The renewed initiative reflects Westpac’s ongoing commitment to supporting women in business, community leadership, and professional sectors across Papua New Guinea. The award seeks to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions by women who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and impact in their respective fields.

Nominations for the 2026 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards opens in March.

Prize categories

The number of categories in which women are recognized has expanded over the years:

Original Categories

Categories added in 2015

Category changes in 2025

Sponsorship

Westpac Papua New Guinea, a subsidiary of Westpac Banking Corporation of Australia, is the primary sponsor and organizer of the award. [1]

Other companies have joined in sponsoring one or more awards over the years. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [11] [17] Typically, these companies contribute cash to sponsor a prize for the finalist in each category, which supports those finalists in continuing their work. [13] [14] [15]

Nominations

The WOW Awards extend a call for nominations each year, and filed an average of 70-80 nominations annually. [1] Nominations for the 2026 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards opens in March. All nominations are to be submitted online via the Westpac Outstanding Women Awards webpage.

Selection of recipients

In 2016, there were over 100 nominations. [18] From among these nominations, a judging panel composed of representatives from Westpac, high-level sponsors, and the community picks a first round of finalists. [19] [9] [17] Judges interview each finalist to assess their: capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others in pursuit of challenging goals; record of operating with integrity and good governance; achievement in appropriate areas, such as school, sports, or professional activities; and personal and professional values. [17] Ultimately, the panel selects one finalist per category, and from among these nominees select the overall Westpac Outstanding Woman Awardee.

Award recipients

YearAwardRecipient
2007-2008Young Achievers Samantha Maria Andreas [20] [21]
2009Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Betty Higgins [17]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector Award Mary Handen [22] [17]
Daltron Entrepreneur Award winnerBetty Higgins [17]
Cardno Acil Public Sector Award Dr. Rona Nebita Nadile [17]
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Tessie Soi [17]
IBBM Young Achievers’ AwardMonica Pomat [17]
2011Overall Westpac Women in Business Award Sarah Haoda Todd [10]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardSarah Haoda Todd [10]
PricewaterHouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardMonica Toisenegila [10]
Mineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) Public Sector AwardNaomi Faik-Simet [10]
Young Achiever's AwardSylvia Pascoe [10]
Trukai Community Responsibility AwardRosemary Vartuam Sovek [10]
2012Overall Westpac Women in Business AwardSusil Nelson [23] [24]
Steamship Public Sector AwardEleina Butuna [24]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardHelam Koaik [24]
IBBM Young Achiever's AwardNaime Tom [24]
Trukai Community Responsibility AwardMary Pohei [24]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsFlorence Lou Willie [24]
2013Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Maria Linibi [25]
Steamship Public Sector AwardDr Mobumo Kiromat [25]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardSarah Shelley [25]
IBBM Young Achiever's AwardDorish Cheryl Mondo Mulas [25]
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Maria Linibi [25]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsAnthonia Apurel [25]
2014Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Lesieli Taviri [26]
Steamship Public Sector AwardEsther Roibete Apuahe [26]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardChristina Josephine Cragnolini [26]
IBBM Young Achiever's Award Mazzella Maniwavie [26]
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Penny Sage-embo [26]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Lesieli Taviri [26]
2015Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Janet Sape [27]
Steamship Public Sector AwardJanet Sios [27]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Joyce Kiage [27]
IBBM Young Achiever's AwardMichelle Boyama [27]
Trukai Community Responsibility AwardBeverly Pambali-Piawu [27]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Janet Sape [27]
Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector AwardDr. Evelyn Lavu [27]
Moore Printing Sport AwardVeitu Diro [27]
2016Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Bosa Togs [18]
Steamship Public Sector AwardDorothy Lamin Koch-Waluta [18]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award Rita Jaima Paru [18]
IBBM Young Achiever's AwardJacqueline Joseph [18]
Trukai Community Responsibility AwardAnnastascia Wanasawo [18]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards Bosa Togs [18]
Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector AwardDr Lutty Amos [18]
Moore Printing Sport AwardJulienne Leka-Maliaki [18]
2017-2018Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Ruth Jewels Kissam [28]
Precinct Public Sector AwardMollina Mercy Kapal [28]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardDorothy Luana [28]
IBBM Young Achiever's Award Crystal Kewe [28]
Trukai Community Responsibility Award Ruth Kissam [28]
Steamships Not For Profit AwardPriscilla Kevin [28]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsKaro Lelai [28]
Moore Printing Sport Award Cybele Druma [28]
2019Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award Raylance Mesa [29]
ExxonMobil PNGLNG Public Sector AwardBetty Jacobs [29]
SP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardVani Nades [29]
IBBM Young Achiever's Award Raylance Mesa [29]
Trukai Community Responsibility AwardFreda Yakio [29]
PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsHillary Turnamur [29]
Moore Printing Sport Award Margaret Aka [29]
Steamships Not For Profit Award Petra Arfeae [29]
YearOverall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardAnne-Shirley Korave
2025Entrepreneuer AwardViolet Bukon
Not-for-ProfitDelsie Casper Nick
Private SectorRaka Numa Raula
Public SectorDr Pamela Toliman
Sports & Arts AdvocateRutha-Mea Omenefa
SustainabilityAnne-Shirley Korave
Young AchieverJulie Rereve

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Awards into 12th Year – EMTV Online". Archived from the original on 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  2. ↑ Spark, Ceridwen (2020). The New Port Moresby: Gender, Space, and Belonging in Urban Papua New Guinea. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 88. ISBN   978-0824881801.
  3. 1 2 "WOW: It's on again this year". The National. 2013-06-14. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  4. 1 2 "Westpac launches WOW awards for 2019". Post Courier. 2018-12-13. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  5. ↑ World Economic Forum (2019). "Global Gender Gap Report 2020" (PDF). World Economic Forum.
  6. ↑ "| Human Development Reports". www.hdr.undp.org. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  7. ↑ Davidson, Helen (2013-07-19). "Papua New Guinea: a country suffering spiralling violence". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  8. ↑ "Westpac Outstanding Women Awards Announced". KTF. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  9. 1 2 "Bank unveils 14 women finalists for awards". The National. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Westpac names winners of WIB awards". The National. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  11. 1 2 "Westpac announces 2015 women's awards". The National. 2015-07-27. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  12. ↑ "11th Westpac Outstanding Women's Award – EMTV Online" . Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  13. 1 2 "WOW awards receive support". The National. 2014-08-07. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  14. 1 2 "SP gives K25,000 for women awards". Post Courier. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  15. 1 2 Bauai, Gloria (2016-08-25). "SP Brewery backs Westpac's Entrepreneur Award". Loop PNG. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  16. ↑ "Raylance scoops overall WOW award 2019". Post Courier. 2019-03-10. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kewei, Cynthia (2009-10-23). "Women shine at the 2009 Westpac Women in Business Awards" (PDF). Westpac. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-05-21.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "WOW Awards winners for 2016". Loop PNG. 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2021-01-18.[ permanent dead link ]
  19. ↑ "Westpac Outstanding Women Awards". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  20. ↑ Ok Tedi Mining (2008). "Annual Review 2008" (PDF). Ok Tedi Mining. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-01-22.
  21. ↑ UK in the South Pacific (2019-08-15). "Congratulations Ms. Samantha Maria Andreas, on your #Chevening scholarship". Facebook.
  22. ↑ "Mother inspires daughters". The National. 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2021-01-17.
  23. ↑ "Express Niugini: Westpac honours PNG women". Express Niugini. 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Nelson wins Westpac WiB award". The National. 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Women's agro rep wins WOW award". The National. 2013-10-18. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  26. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "People moves: Virgin Australia, Departments of Treasury and Justice, Outstanding Women Awards". Business Advantage PNG. 2014-10-29. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "2015 Westpac Outstanding Wowen Awards – EMTV Online". Archived from the original on 2021-03-08. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Women in ICT take out Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Awards!". PNG ICT Meri. 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  29. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "12th Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) Awards – EMTV Online". Archived from the original on 2021-01-22. Retrieved 2021-01-18.

30. Nominations Open for the 2025 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards - Post Courier

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