Thirty women Customs officers from various Pacific nations participated in the graduation ceremony for the 2025 Pacific Women’s Professional Development Program (PWPDP) held at the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service headquarters in Suva. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Australian Border Force (ABF), the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), and RMIT University, specifically aimed at cultivating future female leaders in Customs roles throughout the Pacific.
During the ceremony, Australian Border Force Assistant Commissioner Sharon Huey commended the graduates for their dedication over the five-week training period and encouraged them to embrace innovation as they confront future challenges in border management. She stressed the importance of identifying new initiatives in their roles.
FRCS Director Customs and Border Shelini Kumar emphasized that this graduation marks the start of a transformative journey in border control services. She acknowledged the officer’s efforts in stepping beyond their comfort zones and acquiring tools that will empower them personally and professionally.
Losalini Lesu, a representative from Fiji, reflected on the training as an eye-opening experience, highlighting the course’s focus on public speaking, self-confidence, and leadership development among women in the border and customs sectors. She expressed a commitment to empowering other women within her organization to participate in similar training opportunities.
The PWPDP included participants from a diverse 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 broad participation showcases the regional commitment to enhancing women’s roles in customs and border management, paving the way for more inclusive leadership in the Pacific.
This program not only aims to empower women in their careers but serves as a vital step towards improving border management effectiveness across the region. The focus on training female leaders in the customs sphere reflects a positive shift towards equality and improved governance, contributing to a stronger, more cohesive Pacific community.
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