Marlene’s a lawyer, author, mother, businesswoman

By HELEN TARAWA
MARLEEN Toliman Akop is a lawyer, author, mother-of-eight and businesswoman – all rolled into one.
She recently was appointed the first woman to hold the position of First Legislative Counsel in the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council.
“I try my very best to perform to the best of my ability.
I did not think this role would come to me but I was encouraged by my husband and a few members of Parliament.”
She is married to Luke Simon Akop, also a lawyer, from Nipa in Southern Highlands. They live in Port Moresby with their eight children.
Marlene, 43, is the eldest in a family of six – three boys and three girls. Their late father Vincent Toliman was from Tomar in Gazelle district. Mother Rose Tapae is from Birar in Kokopo.
She attended the Paparatava Primary School from 1988 to 1993. In 1994, she attended the Kokopo High School.
Because of the volcanic eruptions in Rabaul, her parents transferred her to the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Vunapope High School where she completed grades 8 to 10 from 1995 to 1997.
She then completed grades 11 and 12 at the Kerevat National High School in 1998 and 1999, before enrolling in 2000 at the University of PNG where she graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor in Law degree. She completed her mandatory one-year law programme at the Legal Training Institute in 2004.
Her first job was at the Internal Revenue Commission in 2005, prosecuting tax evaders.
On Sept 13, 2008, she joined the Office of the Legislative Counsel as an assistant counsel.
In 2016, she was appointed Second Legislative Counsel, a position she held until October last year when she was appointed First Legislative Counsel.
She also acquired a Masters in Law degree from the Melbourne University in 2020.
“My role as legislative counsel is to draft the bills of Parliament as well as subordinate legislations including preparations of statutory instruments. As a legislative counsel draftswoman, I translate government policy into legislation.
“My job is to ensure that government policies are translated into laws in an understandable way. My job as a legal draftswomen is to ensure clarity in laws.
“I’m passionate about my job and maybe I will grow old in this job. Right now I don’t see any other jobs in law that I’m going to do.”
She wants to set an example for young women wanting to join the profession.
“I need to be more confident in a male-dominated field. I must do my job well for the younger women coming (after me).”
She wants to see some progress made in her office which is being slowed down by “administrative hiccups”.
“My staff are very supportive and I work well with them. I’m not giving up. I will find answers. We have worked together over the years and now I’m in this role as the overseer.”
She has written two books and is working on the third one. Her first book titled Diligence is a guide to PNG students on how to be successful in school.
Her second book The PNG Dream educates young people on how to set and achieve life goals.
“I wrote the books to motivate students and young people in general who have potential but may not realise it. I am hoping that they can be inspired. Every young man and woman has a potential of becoming somebody.
“I want to share with the younger generation because today they are forgotten, which is why we have a lot of social problems. If they can be motivated to believe in themselves, they can become somebody.”
The books are sold at her Shop 68 in Unity Mall, Waigani.
After all the above, she still has time to run on the side a small business at the Unity Mall in Waigani.
“Apart from my formal job, I also do other things like selling stuff. I believe in earning another stream of revenue to make ends meet.”
A role model indeed is Marlene, not only for women but also for everyone else.