Women in Customs stepping up as leaders

WOMEN in Customs administrations in the Pacific are proving that they can lead in trade facilitation, shipping inspections, tax compliance, transnational crime investigations and maritime surveillance.
Samoa’s Ministry of Customs and Revenue chief executive officer Talaitupu Lia Taefu said women were performing as decision-makers, change agents, future planners and strategic leaders.
Thanks to a joint initiative between the Oceania Customs Organisation, the Australian Border Force and Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, 45 women from 14 Pacific island countries completed the Pacific Women’s Professional Development Programme yesterday.
Focused on strategic leadership, they are now ready to drive positive changes to ensure the safety and security of international trade.
“To ensure future border security, our Customs agencies require women and men who can strategically manage the safety of our international supply chain,” Taefu said.
Fiji Revenue and Customs Service chief customs officer Claudette Whippy said: “Previously, we thought that strategic leadership belonged to the executive level in our agencies. But now we’re confident to apply strategic leadership within our own teams, units and departments to accomplish positive border protection outcomes.”