Rokotuibau recalled that in 2020, as Vanuatu marked its 40th Independence Anniversary, Balance of Power began its journey to highlight women’s leadership through the first volume, which focused on remarkable women in the public sector. In 2023, Volume 2 shifted the spotlight to trailblazing women leaders in the private sector.

“This year, as we mark the 16 Days of Activism, we proudly launch Nation Builders: Volume 3,” she said. “We chose to launch this volume during the 16 Days because leadership is not separate from the fight to end violence — it is central to it. Strong, courageous, and principled leadership shapes policies, shifts attitudes, holds institutions accountable, and builds communities where safety, dignity and equality are non-negotiable.”

The third edition highlights women serving on boards and within development organisations — women who, Rokotuibau said, are fearless in taking their rightful place at decision-making tables, shaping governance with clarity and integrity, and influencing policies that drive national development.

“For too long, the story of leadership has been narrow — defined by those with the loudest voice or the most public presence,” she said. “Yet in Vanuatu, in Fiji and globally, we know that real leadership is often quiet, often unseen. Women have always held communities together. They carried resilience and stability even when their names were left out of reports and their stories unfeatured.”

BOP, she added, is calling for a shift in that narrative.

“We recognise that the very same women who carried the unseen burden are now stepping boldly into strategic leadership. They are chairing boards, steering organisations, shaping investment priorities, strengthening governance systems, and expanding our understanding of what leadership in Vanuatu truly means.”

Rokotuibau said celebrating women on boards is more than recognising personal achievement — it affirms representation, challenges social norms, and normalises women’s authority in national decision-making.

Daily Post Managing Director, Gene Wong, said the partnership grew from the newspaper’s commitment to elevating women’s stories. “There is an old saying: ‘Behind every successful man is a woman.’ In Vanuatu, we can say without reservation that women are the backbone of this country — despite their poor representation in Parliament,” he said.

Wong noted that a year ago, the Daily Post decided that International Women’s Day should extend beyond a single day. The newspaper began publishing Woman of the Week every week, featuring cleaners, CEOs, and dreamers. “Those simple stories travelled farther than we imagined — all the way to Balance of Power,” he said.

He explained that discussions with BOP led to a collaboration to produce interviews with women serving on boards, which formed the foundation of Volume 3. “Between these covers are twenty-six women who sit at twenty-six board tables. They are not tokens; they are treasurers of policy, risk, vision and hope,” Wong said. “By telling their stories, we glue cracks in the glass ceiling and hand the next generation a ladder.”

He thanked the Daily Post journalists who conducted the interviews and captured the photographs, saying the publication would not exist without their work. Wong encouraged readers to share the stories widely: “If today you see yourself in these pages, then tomorrow you can see yourself in that boardroom.”

Rokotuibau emphasised that women’s leadership delivers real impact. “When women serve on boards, decisions become more inclusive, governance becomes stronger, accountability deepens, communities benefit, and economies grow,” she said. “Most importantly, our daughters see themselves reflected in spaces where there were once only barriers.”

However, she also acknowledged the heavy responsibilities many women carry. “The women who sit in board meetings are often the same women managing households, supporting extended families, fulfilling community and church obligations, and upholding cultural responsibilities. They are nation builders twice over — sometimes three times over.”

She concluded by honouring the women featured: “We celebrate their intellect, resilience, cultural wisdom and professional excellence. Their leadership is shaping a stronger, more resilient Vanuatu — free from violence and discrimination.”

Nation Builders – Vanuatu, Volume 3 features 26 women serving in high-level roles and on boards of directors across the country.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST