A graduation ceremony at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service headquarters in Suva marked a significant milestone for thirty women Customs officers from various Pacific nations who completed the 2025 Pacific Women’s Professional Development Program (PWPDP). This initiative, a collaboration among the Australian Border Force (ABF), the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), and RMIT University, is designed to cultivate future female leaders in customs roles across the Pacific.
During the ceremony, Sharon Huey, Assistant Commissioner of the Australian Border Force, praised the graduates for their commitment over the five-week training program. She motivated them to embrace innovation as they tackle future challenges in border management, emphasizing the necessity of identifying new initiatives within their roles.
Shelini Kumar, Director of Customs and Border at FRCS, highlighted the graduation as the beginning of a transformative journey. She recognized the officers’ efforts to move beyond their comfort zones and acquire essential tools for personal and professional empowerment.
Losalini Lesu, representing Fiji, described the training as a pivotal experience, focusing on public speaking, self-confidence, and leadership development for women in customs. She committed to inspiring other women within her organization to seize similar opportunities for growth.
Participants in the PWPDP hailed from a broad range of nations, including the Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Guam, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Australia. This diversity underscores a regional commitment to enhancing women’s roles in customs, enabling more inclusive leadership in the Pacific.
The PWPDP not only empowers women in their careers but also represents a vital advancement in improving border management across the region. By prioritizing the training of female leaders in customs, this program reflects a positive shift toward greater equality and effective governance, contributing to a stronger and more unified Pacific community. This initiative holds promise for a future where women play an increasingly significant role in leadership positions, helping to shape border management strategies that benefit the entire region.
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