30 Australia Awards scholars from nine Pacific countries have now successfully completed their first of two residential leadership ‘intensives’ through the 2025 Women’s Developmental Leadership Program.
Travelling to Canberra and Tharwa in February 2025, the participants came face to face with each other for the first time and took part in an immersive week designed to help them test their leadership and build deep connections.
Amid treks in the wilderness, camping in the Australian bush, and a combination of limit-pushing activities and expert guidance to unlock the leader within, the women experienced a week they will “never forget” and moved closer to driving real developmental change upon their return home to the Pacific.
After arriving at Canberra Airport on 7 February, participants travelled to Outward Bound Australia in Tharwa where they were greeted with a welcome to country and smoking ceremony by Ngunnawal Elder, Serena Williams, and briefed on the intensive week ahead.
Here, participants were introduced to the process and leadership of change, self-care and reflective practices, ontological leadership, and Pacific notions of leadership among other concepts.
The participants were also briefed on the latest research and insights on engaging Pacific men in support of women’s leadership, delivered by WLI GEDSI and Safeguards Advisor Dr Mercy Masta.
Moving into the field, the emerging leaders took part in a range of outdoor team and confidence-building activities, including a self-guided overnight field expedition and abseiling down a cliff-face.
Throughout the week, a morning self-care and reflective practice was also established to set each woman up for leadership success.
During the week, participants also visited Australian Parliament House where they were graciously hosted by Senator the Hon Sue Lines.
Over afternoon tea, the women shared their stories and experiences of Australia with Senator Lines.
As Tongan PhD student from Victoria University, Malia (Soana) Kaitapu, said, “I believe I speak for all of us when I say this is the best and most unique leadership training we have ever been to.”
For Soana, this is partly because “the approach detailed leadership through the understanding of ourselves as holistic beings – through our language, the body and our emotions”.
“For us Pacific women, this was an experience that definitely threw us out of our comfort zones... Now we are enthusiastic to return back to our homes, professional settings, and communities empowered, with a more positive mindset and a lot kinder to ourselves,” Soana added.
During this first of two leadership intensives, each emerging leader was supported to clarify a ‘real world’ development issue or topic they hope to positively impact and influence on their return home to the Pacific.
Throughout their time on the Women’s Developmental Leadership Program, participants will continue to work towards these developmental leadership goals and increase their readiness and networks to step into leadership roles in their communities, workplaces and countries.
