Helping to make a change

AS the first woman appointed acting executive director for the Department of Works’ corporate services division, Molong Molean has blazed a trail for other women in the department.
According to a statement from the Australian High Commission, Molean was part of a cohort of change agents who were working to improve Papua New Guinea’s transport sector by mainstreaming the national public service gender equity and social inclusion (Gesi) policy into their respective departments’ structures, plans and reports.
She has been on the frontline of shaping equal employment opportunities since 2012.
The Gesi policy will help Government departments address discrimination issues in the workplace and consequently create positive workplaces for public servants.
Molean is using her people management skills to advocate on the importance of Gesi in achieving the department’s vision of providing a reliable, safe and sustainable road network to enable full economic participation by all Papua New Guineans.
“My role is getting people to understand that the department’s role is more than what they can see,” she said.
“Transport is a catalyst for economic empowerment, which largely contributes to development and that requires inclusion.”
The transport sector support programme, delivered through the PNG-Australia partnership, provided advisory support to Molean and her cohort as part of their professional development.
This helped Molean make strategic and inclusive decisions for the betterment of women, men and the marginalised groups in the transport sector.
“You can see the impact of the programme and the successes of the programme,” she said.
“I’ve benefitted a lot from it and so has the department in terms of knowledge enhancement and skills, such as budget analysis, quality reporting and people management.”
Molean first entered the Department of Works as an assistant planning officer in 1992. She went on to study business management at Port Moresby Business College in 2000.