Westpac Outstanding Women Award

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The Westpac Outstanding Women Award (shortened to WOW Award) recognizes exceptional professional work of women in Papua New Guinea. [1] Since its inception in 2006, [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

Prize categories

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

Original categories

Categories added in 2015

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]

Selection of recipients

The WOW Awards extend a call for nominations each year, and filed an average of 70-80 nominations annually. [1] 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]

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