BOARD - APNGWLN Inc.

2026 – 2028 Board Executives
President: Maureen Santana Lesley
Secretary: Elizabeth Omeri
Treasurer: Jessica Taksir

Board Executives

President – Maureen Santana Lesley

Maureen Santana Lesley is the newly elected President of the Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network Inc. (APNGWLN).
She serves as the Health Manager for the Archdiocese of Madang under Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS), where she oversees 18 health facilities and a team of 110 health staff.
An alumna of the Global Women in Management (GWIM 59) program with a Bachelor of Communication Arts from Divine Word University, she brings over a decade of experience in project management, strategic communications, and public health infrastructure across Papua New Guinea.
Throughout her distinguished career, which includes pivotal management and advocacy roles with Care International, the Safe Motherhood Alliance, World Vision, and the National CCHS Secretariat, Maureen has specialized in strengthening provincial health systems, managing regional HIV and reproductive health programs, and mobilizing women leaders to drive transformative, grassroots community development.

Secretary – Elizabeth Omeri

Elizabeth Omeri is the newly elected Secretary of the Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network Inc. (APNGWLN).
She is an accomplished Papua New Guinean fashion designer, sustainable fashion pioneer, and community leader with over a decade of industry experience as the founder and creative director of Denani Designs.
Her professional journey includes notable tenures as the Public Relations Manager for Buk bilong Pikinini, where she successfully secured critical library funding, and a two-year term as the Executive Officer for APNGWLN.
A dedicated mentor and newly appointed board member of the Pacific Fashion Nation Alliance, Elizabeth actively empowers regional communities by leading impactful initiatives, such as sustainable eco-printing workshops and a collaborative one-month uniform tailoring program for plant site villages alongside Doreka Dai of Diari Tailoring.

She is a GWIM64 Alumni.

Treasurer – Jessica Taksir

Jessica Taksir is the newly elected Treasurer of the Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network Inc. (APNGWLN).
Jessica is deeply driven by a passion for change and the empowerment of women, girls, and youth in Papua New Guinea’s most remote and unreached communities.
With a professional background in the banking industry, Jessica recognized a critical gap in essential services: many remote families remain disconnected from the modern banking system and basic financial education.
To bridge this gap, she established F.I.G Tree Consultancy, focusing on equipping citizens with vital skills in financial literacy, budgeting, savings, and investments. Under her leadership, she manages a dedicated team of four Bank of PNG (CEFI) certified trainers who deliver high-impact financial education to help families achieve long-term sustainability.
Through her work with F.I.G Tree Consultancy, Jessica continues to champion empathy and service, focusing on increasing financial literacy for her communities in New Ireland Province and East New Britain Province.

As a participant of the recent Global Women in Management (GWIM) 75 program, Jessica credits the training for giving her the confidence to step out of her comfort zone ensuring that every individual, regardless of how remote their location, has the knowledge to manage their finances, open bank accounts, and contribute to the economic growth of their community and the nation.