The Pacific Women’s Professional Development Program helps women to further their careers in customs. Photo: Australian Border Force.
Thirty female customs officers from 17 countries across the Pacific region have graduated from the 2025 Pacific Women’s Professional Development Program (PWPDP).
The six-week program, now in its fourth year, empowers women in customs in the Pacific to advance their careers. PWPDP aims to strengthen security in the region by training participants in leadership and fostering customs networking, allowing better collaboration between the nations of the Pacific community.
It was conducted in two phases from 20 January to 28 February this year, with a three-week online component and a nine-day residential element in Fiji.
Around the world, customs is a male-dominated career, with the World Customs Organization Annual Report 2023-2024 stating that women comprise 36 per cent of the global customs workforce, 20 per cent of customs heads and less than a quarter of management positions.
The PWPDP intends to change that.
“[The program] empowered me to step forward in my role with confidence,” PWPDP25 graduate and deputy chief executive officer of Samoa’s Ministry of Customs and Revenue Sophia Laifai-Oloapu said.
“I’m ready to escalate my positive contributions to my community and country.
“I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned and to inspire others to advance their career journeys. The program stands as a testament to collective efforts to empower and support our Pacific women in becoming authentic and resilient leaders, enabling us to lead from where they are.”
The program is an Australian Border Force (ABF) initiative in concert with the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO) and RMIT University.
ABF Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Vanessa Holben said: “By investing in the development of women in customs, we not only enhance regional capacity but also create inclusive environments. We know diverse perspectives are critical in developing innovative solutions to addressing border security challenges.
“The ABF and its partners remain committed to fostering a secure, prosperous, and sovereign Pacific region by promoting the vital role of women in customs.”
In 2025, participant nations include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Cook Islands, Guam, Kiribati, Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Australia.
