Broader horizons for women in transport

Ens uring a clear leadership pathway for women in the transport sector is a goal shared by Australia and Papua New Guinea.
To achieve this, the #PNG Australia Transport Partnership is supporting the career development of talented women in the sector.
For example, the Assistant Component Two Manager in the Transport Sector Support Program is a fully funded secondment arrangement that offers the opportunity for talented Papua New Guinean women to work as part of the senior leadership team at the Department of Transport.
Dinah Omenefa took over the role in 2017.
This programme has given me the confidence to broaden my horizons and my ambitions.
Omenefa joined the programme from the National Maritime Safety Authority where she had been the Manager for Community Development since 2006.
Omenefa is excited by the opportunities that the role offers including the mentoring from senior executives at the Department of Transport.
The position offers a practical and hands on approach to developing leadership skills at the same time as developing policy experience.
“One of the major differences is that I now get to have an input more widely.
“This is not just at the leadership level in the department but with other transport agencies too.
“I have really enjoyed working on the APEC Transport Ministers’ Meeting and learning more from the international context.”
Omenefa was inspired to apply for the role after having spoken to her predecessor, Bessie Andrew who is now in a senior leadership position at Papua New Guinea Air Services Limited.
“The new role has been eye opening for me and I would like to thank Secretary Roy Mumu and the TSSP team for all their support so far.
“This programme has given me the confidence to broaden my horizons and my ambitions.
“I am looking forward to the rest of my placement here.
“In the future I would like to be able to use my skills to represent PNG transport interests internationally.”