'Pawa meri'

Lisa joined Pacific Towing in 2017 as a Deck Cadet, in the first intake of a programme designed to introduce more employment opportunities for women into this traditionally male-dominated sector. After successfully completing her Mate Class III – Deck Officer qualification at the Fiji Maritime College in 2021, she is due for her final assessment at her current rank, which will qualify her to take full command of her own vessel in PNG waters.

What made you choose a career in shipping?

I was second eldest of five girls, but there was a strong tradition of seafaring in our family: my father and late uncle were both seafarers, and my grandfather was a skilled fisherman. As a child growing up in Kiunga [a port on the Fly River], I used to look forward to my dad and uncle returning home with souvenirs from their voyages. My dad would also bring home magazines from work: ships, ships, ships, and everything about ships! So I had the interest as a kid – but I never thought I would end up here!

What are your key responsibilities on board?

I'm responsible for leading and managing a team of 10, including deck and engine room staff and lines personnel, as well as any cadets we may have on on-the-job training. This means I am continually assessing the performance of staff and monitoring their wellbeing, and I supervise the execution of all orders relating to tug movements. So my role requires a lot of communication.

How do you balance your role at work with family life?

I am very fortunate to work for an employer who is a big advocate for gender equality. Here at Pacific Towing, the management go to great efforts to make the workplace inclusive. There are strict company policies in place to protect and guide us, and to ensure staff – men and women – are able to perform our jobs to the best of our abilities. Currently, I work a 5–2 roster, as two of my four children are under the age of two. This means I work from 8am to 5pm, five days a week, and I have two days off in a week. But if I'm asked to go on unplanned salvaging or towing trips, or to stand in for colleagues on harbour operations at other ports, I don't hesitate. I see every opportunity I'm presented with as a chance to learn and grow. I'm very grateful to Pacific Towing for allowing me this degree of flexibility, which enables me to juggle family life as well as my job. Nevertheless, I'd find it much harder to manage without the support of my wonderful family.

Can you share a particularly memorable experience while working at Pacific Towing?

I was recently given my first temporary command, to bring Waiowa back to Port Moresby, following a double salvage of two fishing boats off Misima, in Milne Bay Province. It was a milestone for me, as my first trip as Master, and the weather was at its peak, with a cyclone warning in force. So the circumstances were challenging and took me outside my comfort zone. But Waiowa is a small but sturdy tug that manoeuvres well, and I was leading a very good team of seafarers, so I felt the experience helped us all to grow.

Tell us about your career goal of becoming a Master Mariner: what are the next steps on your journey?

For this goal to come to fruition, I know I am going to have to make more sacrifices around my personal life to put the necessary effort in. I am working hard on gaining trust and respect amongst my more experienced colleagues, and I'm focused on mastering the handling of our ASD [Azimuth Stern Drive] tugs before pursuing Master Class III and then hopefully climbing the ladder from there to Class II and Master Class I – Unrestricted. I am so much in awe of the women who have gone before me and broken down barriers and stereotypical thinking simply by excelling and without any fanfare. I am eager to learn, and I hope I can flourish and grow, with the right mentorship and guidance from some of the best tug masters in Papua New Guinea.

As a woman leader working in a traditionally male dominated field, what words of encouragement would you offer to other women who are considering a career in shipping?

I hope my journey will inspire and empower other women to pursue the same pathway. I would tell them to set themselves goals: keep challenging yourself and persevere. Remember that it's not about competing with your male counterparts, but about learning everything you possibly can from skilled and seasoned mariners. So set aside differences and put your mind to achieving what you want to. You can do almost anything if you put your mind to it.