Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network office had a lovely short visit by the Steamships Team on Thursday 26th February, 2026. Geoff Cundle, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of John Swire and Sons (Australia) Pty Limited accompanied by Ruth Kissam, General Manager , Corporate Affairs and Kurere Matanzana, Government and External Affairs Manager.
APNGWLN was one of the select Civil Society Organisations and Community based organisations they visited, to learn about the organisations and the work that they do.
APNG:WLN Members and partners from Porebada and Boera were able to set up and showcase some of their products and a grand welcome singsing by the Porebada String band.
Cathy Alex, APNGWLN Executive Director did a brief presentation on APNGWLN and its membership programs and donor-funded projects currently being carried out. One of which is the Rural PNG Value Adding Small Grants where 30 grantees in 13 provinces have been awarded a small grant of K5,000 to support their community initiatives.
Cathy expressed the desire for APNGWLN to be driving a fundamental shift in Papua New Guinea’s development architecture by moving away from fragmented, externally driven projects toward a model of coordinated, self-determined leadership.
The network’s strategic ambition for 2026–2028 is to evolve into a premier community grants intermediary capable of overseeing multiple donor streams through 22 provincial hubs directly to the local people.
By bridging the gap between international partners and local actors, APNGWLN aims to formalize over 220 community organizations, ensuring that development is managed by trusted national women leaders who combine digital accountability with deep cultural legitimacy.
We are thankful to the Steamships and Swire Team for choosing Advancing PNG Women Leaders Network as part of your community organization visits.
