# Westpac Outstanding Women Award

The Westpac Outstanding Women Award (shortened to WOW Award) recognizes exceptional professional work of women in Papua New Guinea. Since its inception in 2006, when it was called the Westpac Women in Business Award, the Award has recognized the achievements of individual women in multiple categories. Each category awardee then becomes a finalist for the overall WOW Award. In the face of acknowledged gender inequity in the country, the WOW Awards call attention to the crucial and highly skilled work done by women across a number of sectors. The winner of the WOW Award receives a grant to pursue a formal education, professional mentoring, opportunities for professional learning and networking at an Australian Executive Women's Leadership symposium, and a cash prize. The WOW Awards support the belief that investment in women leads to stronger economic outcomes for a nation as a whole, and strives to provide role models for the girls and women of the country.

## Prize categories

The number of categories in which women are recognized has expanded over the years:

### Original categories

* Public Sector Award
* Entrepreneurship Award
* Private Sector Award
* Community Responsibility Award
* Young Achiever
* Westpac Women in Business Award (changed in 2013 to Westpac Outstanding Women Award)

### Categories added in 2015

* Sports Award
* Not for Profit Award

## Sponsorship

Westpac Papua New Guinea, a subsidiary of Westpac Banking Corporation of Australia, is the primary sponsor and organizer of the award.
Other companies have joined in sponsoring one or more awards over the years. Typically, these companies contribute cash to sponsor a prize for the finalist in each category, which supports those finalists in continuing their work.

## Selection of recipients

The WOW Awards extend a call for nominations each year, and filed an average of 70-80 nominations annually. In 2016, there were over 100 nominations. From among these nominations, a judging panel composed of representatives from Westpac, high-level sponsors, and the community picks a first round of finalists. Judges interview each finalist to assess their: capacity to lead, influence, and inspire others in pursuit of challenging goals; record of operating with integrity and good governance; achievement in appropriate areas, such as school, sports, or professional activities; and personal and professional values. Ultimately, the panel selects one finalist per category, and from among these nominees select the overall Westpac Outstanding Woman Awardee.

## Award recipients

| Year | Award | Recipient |
| 2007-2008 | Young Achievers | Samantha Maria Andreas |
| 2009 | Overall Westpac Women in Business Award | Betty Higgins |
| 2009 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector Award | Mary Handen |
| 2009 | Daltron Entrepreneur Award winner | Betty Higgins |
| 2009 | Cardno Acil Public Sector Award | Dr. Rona Nebita Nadile |
| 2009 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Tessie Soi |
| 2009 | IBBM Young Achievers’ Award | Monica Pomat |
| 2011 | Overall Westpac Women in Business Award | Sarah Haoda Todd |
| 2011 | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Sarah Haoda Todd |
| 2011 | PricewaterHouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Award | Monica Toisenegila |
| 2011 | Mineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) Public Sector Award | Naomi Faik-Simet |
| 2011 | Young Achiever's Award | Sylvia Pascoe |
| 2011 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Rosemary Vartuam Sovek |
| 2012 | Overall Westpac Women in Business Award | Susil Nelson |
| 2012 | Steamship Public Sector Award | Eleina Butuna |
| 2012 | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Helam Koaik |
| 2012 | IBBM Young Achiever's Award | Naime Tom |
| 2012 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Mary Pohei |
| 2012 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards | Florence Lou Willie |
| 2013 | Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award | Maria Linibi |
| 2013 | Steamship Public Sector Award | Dr Mobumo Kiromat |
| 2013 | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Sarah Shelley |
| 2013 | IBBM Young Achiever's Award | Dorish Cheryl Mondo Mulas |
| 2013 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Maria Linibi |
| 2013 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards | Anthonia Apurel |
| 2014 | Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award | Lesieli Taviri |
| 2014 | Steamship Public Sector Award | Esther Roibete Apuahe |
| 2014 | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Christina Josephine Cragnolini |
| 2014 | IBBM Young Achiever's Award | Mazzella Maniwavie |
| 2014 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Penny Sage-embo |
| 2014 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards | Lesieli Taviri |
| 2015 | Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award | Janet Sape |
| 2015 | Steamship Public Sector Award | Janet Sios |
| 2015 | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Joyce Kiage |
| 2015 | IBBM Young Achiever's Award | Michelle Boyama |
| 2015 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Beverly Pambali-Piawu |
| 2015 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards | Janet Sape |
| 2015 | Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector Award | Dr. Evelyn Lavu |
| 2015 | Moore Printing Sport Award | Veitu Diro |
| 2016 | Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award | Bosa Togs |
| | Steamship Public Sector Award | Dorothy Lamin Koch-Waluta |
| | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Rita Jaima Paru |
| | IBBM Young Achiever's Award | Jacqueline Joseph |
| | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Annastascia Wanasawo |
| | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards | Bosa Togs |
| | Pacific Assurance Group Public Sector Award | Dr Lutty Amos |
| | Moore Printing Sport Award | Julienne Leka-Maliaki |
| 2017-2018 | Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award | Ruth Jewels Kissam |
| 2017-2018 | Precinct Public Sector Award | Mollina Mercy Kapal |
| 2017-2018 | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Dorothy Luana |
| 2017-2018 | IBBM Young Achiever's Award | Crystal Kewe |
| 2017-2018 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Ruth Kissam |
| 2017-2018 | Steamships Not For Profit Award | Priscilla Kevin |
| 2017-2018 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards | Karo Lelai |
| 2017-2018 | Moore Printing Sport Award | Cybele Druma |
| 2019 | Overall Westpac Outstanding Women Award | Raylance Mesa |
| 2019 | ExxonMobil PNGLNG Public Sector Award | Betty Jacobs |
| 2019 | SP Brewery Entrepreneur Award | Vani Nades |
| 2019 | IBBM Young Achiever's Award | Raylance Mesa |
| 2019 | Trukai Community Responsibility Award | Freda Yakio |
| 2019 | PricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector Awards | Hillary Turnamur |
| 2019 | Moore Printing Sport Award | Margaret Aka |
| 2019 | Steamships Not For Profit Award | Petra Arfeae |