Alice Asigau Navuru PSC’s recently recruited Human Resources Manager. Mrs. Navuru recently had a chat with the PSC media on the highlights of her professional career. Here we feature Alice who is a determined woman, a wife, a mother of three (3), and a career woman in the Public Service.

Alice completed her Post Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management (HRM) from the University of South Australia, in 2019. After completing her post-graduate studies in Australia, Alice as an Alumni of PNG Australia Alumni Association (PNGAAA) through Australia Awards PNG (AAPNG) was further given the opportunity to attend one of AAPNG there first pilot programs called ‘The Women Alumni Mentorship Program’ (WAMI).

Recently Alice attended the graduation of this 3 years pilot program hosted by the Australia Awards PNG which Alice was part of as one of the mentees to celebrate the Women Alumni Mentoring Initiative (WAMI) that concluded its third year. The event was an opportunity to congratulate Alice and other mentees and mentors. The initiative provides professional development workshops and networking opportunities for alumni to share knowledge and skills for stakeholders to hear about their experiences over the past months.

Alice’s story is one of the success stories of this pilot program whereby through this program, she was able to secure another professional development scholarship from the East-West Center called ‘Asia Pacific Leadership Program’ (APLP) offered at the University of Hawaii in Manoa as Generation 21 member selected from Asia Pacific countries 2022 to 2023.

She is a member of the PNG Australia Alumni Association (PNGAAA) which is a professional association of Papua New Guineans that have lived and studied in Australia. As an Alumni, Alice, and other fellows are empowered to contribute to the growth and development of PNG and to foster productive relationships between Australia and PNG and this is a forum to discuss and action on development challenges facing PNG and the Pacific.

WAMI is part of a number of programs or initiatives that Australia Awards PNG initiated as professional development for women as mentees and mentors to learn from each other collectively and build a strong bond of networking. The celebration showcases the Initiative’s activities undertaken and other highlights including challenges, successful outcomes, and lessons learned. As an integral part of this Initiative’s success as a mentee, were invited to attend in person.

As part of the event, a panel discussion took place where panelists share their mentoring experiences. Alice’s mentor, Ms. Anne Lauka who is the Professional Development Trainer at Ela Motors PNG spoke about Alice’s journey in this three-year pilot program and how she has progressed professionally in her career.

When asked what advice she would like to give to people who want to further upskill or continue their education this was what Alice had to say?

‘’Education doesn’t end when you complete Grade 10, 12 or the University degree you attain. Learning is an ongoing opportunity to grab and upskill yourself. This will not only upskill you professionally but personally as well. I go by my affirmation that, ‘I will achieve it if only I believe it’.

What were some of the skills and knowledge you have gained through that program you plan on utilizing in your current role at PSC?

‘’I have gained a lot of confidence and value in my line of duty as a Human Resource practitioner in this 3 years pilot program as a Mentee in Cohort 1, 2, and now 3. I have set goals to achieve and one of them is to become a Manager of Human Resources in the next 5 years. I am now fortunate to be employed by Public Services Commission .’’

Any final word of thank you to your sponsor and family members who have supported you along this journey?

‘’Yes, I would like to say Thank you to my Secretary, PSC Secretariat Mr. Terence B. Tupi for allowing me to attend this celebration event’’

‘’Thank you to our sponsors Australia Awards PNG, Ms Rebecca Gitsham, Mr. Samson Vartovo, Ms. Melissa Warbua, and Dr. Lesley Petersen. Thank you to Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Joanne Loundes, Australian High Commission, and Ms. Susan Wilson from the Department of Foreign Affairs Australia.’’

‘’ Thank you to my mentors, Ms. Nakanat Kote, Ms. Pansy Taueni-Sialis, and Ms. Anne Lauka .’’

‘’And of course, thank you to my family and friends for your support most especially to my husband and our children for keeping up with my busy schedules.’’

Anything else you want to add to conclude?

‘’I would like to encourage everyone both girls and boys, career women and men, SME women, and men and stay-at-home mothers and fathers that empowering a girl or a boy starts at home. Therefore, please keep speaking positive thoughts and encouragement to our children to rise up in their space to become what they set their goals too. ‘’

‘’Last, but not least, I want to be a role model to my children who will want to aspire to become or achieve more than me.’’