FRCS women graduate
EIGHT women employed in the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) — customs and border control division — have successfully graduated from the third phase of the Pacific Women’s Professional Development Program (PWPDP) last week.
The graduates are Claudette Whippy, Tale Tikoisuva, Preethi Prasad, Mereoni Jikotani, Laisa Naulumatua, Jocelyn Permal, Anshu Mudaliar and Ani Mei Salusalu.
In a statement, FRCS said not only did the women prove they could lead at all levels in the organisation, but were also ready to mobilise positive changes in border protection, tax compliance, transnational crime investigations, maritime surveillance and facilitation of trade.
Keeping in line with the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) campaign theme of “inspire inclusion”, FRCS said the women were not only inspiring their fellow female colleagues to be included in leadership roles but for more women to join the customs profession.
The eight women are part of the 44 women from 14 Pacific countries who graduated from the third phase of the PWPDP, a joint initiative between the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), the Australian Border Force (ABF) and RMIT University.
FRCS acting CEO, Malakai Naiyaga said this was a fantastic achievement for our customs and border control leaders.
“It is great to see that our women are overcoming the hurdles and are making positive advances towards leadership role,” Mr Naiyaga said.
“FRCS is working actively and steadily over the years to become a gender-balanced administration and I am proud to state FRCS has a good gender balance in our leadership team and throughout the organisation.”
FRCS chief customs officer, Claudette Whippy said “previously we thought that strategic leadership belonged to the executive level in our agencies”.
“But now we’re confident to apply strategic leadership within our own teams, units and departments to accomplish positive border protection outcomes,” Ms Whippy said.