The Westpac Outstanding Women Awards (shortened to WOW Award) recognizes exceptional professional work of women in Papua New Guinea. Since its inception in 2002, 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.
In 2025, after a five-year hiatus, Westpac Papua New Guinea relaunched its Westpac Outstanding Women Awards with a renewed strategy aimed at promoting gender equality and leadership development. The renewed initiative reflects Westpac's ongoing commitment to supporting women in business, community leadership, and professional sectors across Papua New Guinea. The award seeks to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions by women who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and impact in their respective fields.
Nominations for the 2026 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards opens in March.
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
Category changes in 2025 Sports to Sports and Arts Advocate Award Community to Sustainability 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.
Nominations The WOW Awards extend a call for nominations each year, and filed an average of 70-80 nominations annually. Nominations for the 2026 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards opens in March. All nominations are to be submitted online via the Westpac Outstanding Women Awards webpage.
Selection of recipients 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 +YearAwardRecipient2007-2008Young AchieversSamantha Maria Andreas2009Overall Westpac Women in Business AwardBetty HigginsPricewaterhouseCoopers Private Sector AwardMary HandenDaltron Entrepreneur Award winnerBetty HigginsCardno Acil Public Sector AwardDr. Rona Nebita NadileTrukai Community Responsibility AwardTessie SoiIBBM Young Achievers’ AwardMonica Pomat2011Overall Westpac Women in Business AwardSarah Haoda ToddSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardSarah Haoda ToddPricewaterHouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardMonica ToisenegilaMineral Resource Development Co (MRDC) Public Sector AwardNaomi Faik-SimetYoung Achiever's AwardSylvia PascoeTrukai Community Responsibility AwardRosemary Vartuam Sovek2012Overall Westpac Women in Business AwardSusil NelsonSteamship Public Sector AwardEleina ButunaSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardHelam KoaikIBBM Young Achiever's AwardNaime TomTrukai Community Responsibility AwardMary PoheiPricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsFlorence Lou Willie2013Overall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardMaria LinibiSteamship Public Sector AwardDr Mobumo KiromatSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardSarah ShelleyIBBM Young Achiever's AwardDorish Cheryl Mondo MulasTrukai Community Responsibility AwardMaria LinibiPricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsAnthonia Apurel2014Overall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardLesieli TaviriSteamship Public Sector AwardEsther Roibete ApuaheSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardChristina Josephine CragnoliniIBBM Young Achiever's AwardMazzella ManiwavieTrukai Community Responsibility AwardPenny Sage-emboPricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsLesieli Taviri2015Overall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardJanet SapeSteamship Public Sector AwardJanet SiosSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardJoyce KiageIBBM Young Achiever's AwardMichelle BoyamaTrukai Community Responsibility AwardBeverly Pambali-PiawuPricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsJanet SapePacific Assurance Group Public Sector AwardDr. Evelyn LavuMoore Printing Sport AwardVeitu Diro2016Overall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardBosa TogsSteamship Public Sector AwardDorothy Lamin Koch-WalutaSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardRita Jaima ParuIBBM Young Achiever's AwardJacqueline JosephTrukai Community Responsibility AwardAnnastascia WanasawoPricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsBosa TogsPacific Assurance Group Public Sector AwardDr Lutty AmosMoore Printing Sport AwardJulienne Leka-Maliaki2017-2018Overall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardRuth Jewels KissamPrecinct Public Sector AwardMollina Mercy KapalSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardDorothy LuanaIBBM Young Achiever's AwardCrystal KeweTrukai Community Responsibility AwardRuth KissamSteamships Not For Profit AwardPriscilla KevinPricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsKaro LelaiMoore Printing Sport AwardCybele Druma2019Overall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardRaylance MesaExxonMobil PNGLNG Public Sector AwardBetty JacobsSP Brewery Entrepreneur AwardVani NadesIBBM Young Achiever's AwardRaylance MesaTrukai Community Responsibility AwardFreda YakioPricewaterhouseCoopers Private and Corporate Sector AwardsHillary TurnamurMoore Printing Sport AwardMargaret AkaSteamships Not For Profit AwardPetra ArfeaeYearOverall Westpac Outstanding Women AwardAnne-Shirley Korave2025Entrepreneur AwardViolet BukonNot-for-ProfitDelsie Casper NickPrivate SectorRaka Numa RaulaPublic SectorDr Pamela TolimanSports & Arts Advocate Rutha-Mea OmenefaSustainabilityAnne-Shirley KoraveYoung AchieverJulie Rereve References 30. Nominations Open for the 2025 Westpac Outstanding Women Awards - Post Courier