PNG Hosts Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis Initiative Workshop

Eleven women from across the Pacific have arrived in Papua New Guinea for the Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis initiative, which started yesterday (14th October 2025) and will finish today (15th October).  

Delivered by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program in partnership with Tennis Australia, the program supports emerging Pacific women leaders in tennis administration with leadership modules and mentoring, empowering participants to take the next steps in their careers.

This year’s cohort includes Adelaide Senior and Abigail Tere-Apisah from PNG and other participants from Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tonga, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.

This year’s program will commence with a series of workshops from 14-15 October, focusing on topics, including stakeholder engagement, goal setting, and public speaking.

This is Papua New Guinea's first time hosting the regional leadership workshop, which is taking place amidst celebrations for PNG’s 50th Anniversary of Independence. The workshop provides an opportunity to showcase the significance of women’s leadership in PNG through sports like tennis. 

Participants will also attend a networking event at the Port Moresby Racquets Club, where they will have the chance to network further and meet with the Papua New Guinea tennis community.

This year’s program will be facilitated by Andrea Buckeridge, Head of Women and Girls, Tennis Australia, and Barbara Stubbings, President of PNG Tennis and Oceania Tennis Federation Board Member. Barbara Stubbings was part of the first cohort of the Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis program, graduating in 2023.

Ewen McDonald, Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea and Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs, expressed his delight in advancing women’s leadership through tennis. 

“It is exciting to see the approaches taken by the Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis Initiative to promote women’s empowerment and leadership capabilities in the Pacific,” McDonald said. 

“We thank Tennis Australia for their partnership and PNG Tennis for hosting this initiative in PNG’s 50^th year of independence. It is wonderful to see PNG showcasing the incredible talent in PNG Tennis to the rest of the Pacific and deepening connections through our shared passion for sport.”

Isabelle Gemmel, Head of International Engagement, Tennis Australia, said: "Women's leadership is one of the key pillars of the Pacific Women and Girls in Tennis program, alongside talent, coaching, and officiating. 

“With the upcoming Australian Open in 2026, 40 inspiring women from 12 Pacific countries will have participated in this transformative initiative. Each one brings strength, purpose, and a commitment to uplifting their communities, demonstrating how tennis can be a powerful platform for leadership and positive change across the Pacific.”

Vicki Reid, President of Oceania Tennis Federation, said: "This partnership between the Australian Government, Tennis Australia, and Oceania Tennis Federation is creating lasting change across our region. PNG’s Barbara Stubbings' journey from participant to program facilitator shows what's possible when we invest in Pacific women leaders. 

“These eleven women join a growing network that will strengthen tennis administration and community development across the Pacific for years to come.”

The program will conclude in January 2026, when participants will travel to Melbourne for their final workshops and the program graduation, which will be held during the 2026 Australian Open.