Promotional Seminar for Aspiring Women Directors

December 3, 2018

Participants at the workshop. Photo credit: J.Mareko/WILS/2018

Twenty (20) Aspiring Women Directors are undergoing a half day seminar to understand the application process and entice them to apply for directorship.

The half-day seminar, targeting aspiring women Directors, held on 30th November 2018 is facilitated by the Samoa Institute of Directors (IOD) and funded by the Women in Leadership in Samoa (WILS), a three-year United Nations Joint project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Women (UN Women) Agency, with funding from the Australian Government and the Government of Samoa.

The Seminar: A Promotional Seminar for Aspiring Women Directors is part of a capacity building initiative that aims to increase the understanding of women on the application process for one to be successfully selected to be a Director in both private and public sector boards.

The seminar was attended by 20 aspiring women directors who learned about the Government Directorship Framework and the Application Process which was facilitated by the Ministry of Public Enterprises (MPE). Also, they were given Helpful Hints of Being a Director by Afioga Seulupe Michelle Macdonald not only to entice the participants to apply for Directorship but also to give an insight of the contribution they as future Directors can make to the development of Samoa through policy advice and relevant interventions.

Manu’a Dr. Cam Wendt of the Ministry of Public Enterprises (MPE) in his presentation, encouraged women to apply for Directorship, considering the skills and competencies they can offer to contribute to the overall governance of organisations and communities. At the moment only 24% of public sector directors are female while only 22% (53/241) applicants are made of women as recorded in the MPE database. He hopes that as a result of this seminar, more women will express an interest to be a Director by applying for Directorship in late 2019.

“This workshop aims to inform aspiring women applicants on the role of a board director in private/public sector organisations and the expectations required of the role. Through this understanding, women can feel empowered and confident to step up and complete the application process to be nominated as a director.” said Chief Executive Officer for the Institute of Directors, Funemalafai Ono Fuata’i, in a statement issued on the program.

“The UN Joint WILS project is focused on supporting development initiatives that promote gender equality and capacity building in Samoa”, said UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Samoa, Ms Simona Marinescu.

“This seminar was very useful for me in terms of understanding the roles and responsibilities of being a board director. Also, understanding the requirements and criteria for the Application Process was very important for me who is a first timer on this type of program to inform my decision to enrol in the 5 day Professional Program for Aspiring Directors in 2019 and I am more confident now to apply in 2019 when the Directorship vacancies are advertised”, said Mrs Aiufi Sosaiete Kelekolio.

Media enquiries should be directed to:
1. Ms. Jordanna Mareko, Communication Project Coordinator, UN Joint WILS Project, UNDP Samoa Office, Ph.: Tel: +685-23670 ext. 62 or Email: jordanna.mareko@undp.org