by Anthony Kalai – Ethical leadership & anti-corruption advocate | WMO-certified meteorologist | Physicist | Entrepreneur | Founder & MD, DK3 Swift Finances | Chairman & Acting CEO, Pusungop Tan Kalai Limited.
Who broke barriers and gave Papua a powerful voice before independence?
As Papua New Guinea celebrates 50 years of iPapuandependence, we honor Dame Josephine Abaijah, a true trailblazer in our nation’s political history.
Born in Misima, Milne Bay Province, in 1944, Dame Josephine became the first woman elected to the pre-independence House of Assembly in 1972. She founded the Papua Besena movement, boldly advocating for the secession of the Papua region to highlight regional inequalities and the need for decentralization.
Her fearless activism and leadership sparked vital conversations about identity, autonomy, and balanced development, paving the way for greater inclusion and recognition of women in politics.
