Winner first under 30 to take Wow prize

A 24-year-old stole the show at the Westpac Outstanding Women’s (WOW) awards in Port Moresby on Friday.
Raylance Mesa, from Kavieng, was the overall WOW of the year, who followed past winners like Ruth Kissam, Bosa Togs, Lesieli Taviri and the late Janet Sape. It was the first time a woman under 30, was named the overall winner.
Mesa was the IBBM young achiever award winner among other award winning finalists.
This year, 21 women who contributed daily to the improvement of PNG were recognised as finalists, from female professional taking on senior positions in mining and provincial law to women changing the lives of children through education, orphan care, and internet provision to rural schools.
Last year’s winner of the IBBM young achiever awards, Crystal Kewe, encouraged the finalists to keep up their phenomenal work, and spoke about the opportunities recognized through WOW awards has given her at home and globally.
Westpac PNG’s chief executive Brett Hooker spoke about the need to recognise women’s achievements on international women’s day.
“We see and hear about women doing remarkable things every day. In business, the public sector, NGO’s and in their communities.
“But a lot of times they go un-rewarded, and certainly are not recognized on a national scale.
“Through WOW, we have a platform to thank PNG phenomenal women, not only for their individual achievements, but also for being role models and paving the way for other women and girls,” Hooker said.
Other 2017-2018 WOW finalists were Price Waterhouse Coopers private sector award Hillary Turnamur; Exxon Mobile PNG LNG public sector award winner Betty Jacobs; Steamships not for profit award Petra Arifeae; SP Brewery Entrepreneur award Vani Nades; Moore Printing Sports award Margaret Aka; and Trukai Community award Freda Yakio.