by my father’s profile and my family name and so it was a good opportunity to be able to go out there (Port Vila), alone. But you know, having said that, operating as the child of this man was also a fantastic opportunity because of the great love and respect my father has in the region.
the British High Commission as a political and public affairs manager. And then I went to work at the ABC as the local journalist, and I was a reporter for Tok Pisin Radio Australia. At 33, when we had our second daughter, 10 years after the first one, I decided to go to university. I studied a joint degree: a Bachelor in Political Science and Anthropology and a Bachelor of Law.
I graduated in 2013 and went to work at a regional think-tank in Port Vila in Vanuatu. I really loved it. I had a really good opportunity to understand public policy – the importance of it in planning but also the importance of it in jurisdictions in Melanesia. What has it been like living in the shadow of your father? We’ve always been overshadowed
Being a member of your high-profile family, are you ever judged for ‘your position of privilege’ or being accused of not being able to empathise with the people or their issues? I have always felt guilty that I didn’t really have the (hardship) experiences that a lot of people have had. I have had the luxury of being able to read, to access information and to be focused about my choices. But I feel like I can make a contribution back. Being able to get up every morning and contribute to society and helping those less fortunate, kind of reduces that internal feeling of guilt, for want of a better term. I am able to bring ideas and offer notions of what the rest of the world is doing in terms of development and economic prosperity. The Grand Brasserie at the Grand Papua Hotel in Mary Street, Port Moresby, is open for breakfast from 6am to 10am. For bookings, tel. +675 304 0170. SEPTEMBER 2020 PNG NOW 9
