Breakfast with Dulciana Somare-Brash

DULCIANA SOMARE-BRASH PUBLIC POLICY AND POLITICAL ADVISOR

Dulciana Somare-Brash is a political advisor to the

PNG Ministry of National Planning and Monitoring and the United Labor Party. If her maiden name sounds familiar, that is because she is the daughter of Papua New Guinea’s founding father, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, and Lady Veronica Somare. Somare-Brash lives in Port Moresby’s Touaguba Hill with her husband and two daughters.

Why have you chosen the Grand Papua Hotel for breakfast?

Well, firstly because it’s close to my house; and secondly because the coffee’s great. I tend to have a lot of work meetings here. I like the fact that it’s very PNG inspired too. As you go all the way up to the top floor to the Executive Club Lounge, it’s a great reminder of how our traditional ways have provided the inspiration for this modern building.

I feel like I can make a contribution

(to society) by being able to get up every morning and helping those less fortunate ...

Do you usually eat breakfast?

I usually only drink cups of strong coffee in the morning.

I will eat breakfast on the weekends, but I won’t make time for it on weekdays.

Well that pretty much answers the ‘coffee or tea’ question.

Definitely coffee, and PNG coffee. Brewed coffee. We have a serious rule in our team (PNG Ministry of National Planning and Monitoring) that black, brewed coffee with honey is the go.

What have you ordered today?

I’ve gone for the omelette, which is one of my favourites – usually without onions but I’ve asked for everything today.

What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

I want to get out of bed just because of the intensity of the issues that we’re dealing with at the Ministry. They are complex landowner, development and social issues that aren’t as predictable and straightforward as you may think.

Your maiden name (Somare) needs no introduction, but you have built your own career as a political advisor. You are an inspiration to a lot of young women. Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got to where you are now.

I have a background in law and political science. My first job was with Air Niugini, selling tickets in the early 90s.

I met my husband and we had our first child, who is now 23.

I continued to work after that: at the Australian High Commission as a senior research officer, then at

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?

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.

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.