Women behind the delivery of PNG’s Pacific Games

A testament of the 2015 Pacific Games Games Organising Committee’s commitment to Papua New Guinean women and its recognition of equal participation in the workforce can be evidenced by about 53% of the staff of the Games Organising Committee (GOC) being female.

Delivering the upcoming 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, the GOC Board is headed by Emma Waiwai, an engineer by profession and a sports personality having representing Papua New Guinea in basketball and been involved in various sports administration roles. She also has four other women in her board: Naraai Banam, Esther Igo, Mary Johns and Tamzin Wardley.

Wardley who handled the Commonwealth Games Baton Relays as they passed through PNG, is responsible for the Oil Search Pacific Games Relay. Her team is made up of three other women who will take the Relay baton to 22 Provinces and will allow 6,000 runners the opportunity to carry the baton in-front of thousands of people.

Apart from the Board, GOC’s Executive Manager for Commercial is headed by Brenda

Perreaux, who has a wealth of experience working in big international sporting events like the 1999 Pan Am Games, Sydney 2000 Olympics and 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester to name a few.

Meanwhile Company Secretary, Finance, and Communications are all headed by PNG women in senior management roles while an equal number of female staff also occupy various roles within the organisation including the coordinators of Press Operations, Government Liaison, Venues, Relay, Volunteer Program, Transport & Logistics, Games Services, Sports and office.

GOC Chief Executive Peter Stewart explains “we are a strong supporter of PNG Women and believe in equal participation.

“We encourage professional, experienced and skilled women’s participation at all levels of our organisation to help us deliver the Games.

“Sport is an event that does not discriminate gender and GOC is pleased to be promoting it.”

Meanwhile the cleaning services for the Games Village that will accommodate 4,000 plus athletes and officials during the two weeks of the Games is contracted to Lae Everclean, a local company, owned by a local business woman.

Commenting on ongoing opportunities, Stewart added “there are opportunities still available where more local women can be part of.

“All contractual roles are determined and awarded on merit basis and also on the type of roles that are required. We have a very stringent awarding system that is in place to drive this.

“Therefore we encourage interested businesses to submit their expression of interest on tenders that are being advertised.”

The Pacific Games will be held from 4th to 18th July, with 24 countries set to compete, including, Australia and New Zealand for the first time. 

Images show: GOC Female Staff (top) and the 2015 Pacific Games mascot (below).

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