Minister of Finance Leads Women’s Delegation to Gender Equality Symposium

Source: Office of the Minister of Finance

01 AUGUST 2023: The Minister of Finance, Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o led a Samoan women’s delegation to the: Gender Equality Symposium and FIFA Women’s World Cup side events, Meanjin, Brisbane Australia – 27th & 28th July 2023.

The symposium brought together a host of global leaders, sports champions, human rights advocates, and emerging female leaders from the across the world and the Pacific region.

Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o was invited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong and Trade and was accompanied by Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu, senior lawyer, Consultant and international sports official who attended as a Pacific leader from Samoa, and Aualiitia Sine Lafaialii Koria, Manager Legal for the Samoa National Provident Fund as the adviser specifically for her role in the establishment of the legal framework for people with disabilities.

The event was held in parallel to a ‘kick around’ between Penny Wong and the heads of delegations, with the Afghanistan women’s football team players. The first day then concluded with all delegates attending the FIFA Women’s World Cup match between Australia and Nigeria held at Suncorp Stadium.

The Gender Symposium participants heard from various global leaders on their experiences in driving gender equality especially in sports, including the first female Secretary General of FIFA: Madame Fatma Samoura. A surprise speaker was the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken who spoke of the US’s approach to Gender Equality.

The Symposium also provided a unique opportunity for Minister Mulipola to attend a bilateral meeting with the Queensland Government Treasurer, and Minister for Trade and Investment, Cameron Dick. She also met the inaugural Queensland Government Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Pacific, Ms. Leata Ala’imoana Roberts. Mulipola also held bilateral talks with Katy Gallagher, the Federal Minister for Finance, Women, and the Public Service.

The Samoan delegation also visited the Queensland Women’s Health and Equality where they discussed and shared stories about advancing women’s health and equality as well as access to public health services both in Australia and Samoa.

The Minister was also delighted to meet with young Samoan women who are making their mark in the world such as:

• Sarai Bareman who is the inaugural Chief Women’s Football Officer who started her football administration career representing Samoa as a player, then Finance Manager and eventually CEO of the Football Federation of Samoa. She went on to become the Deputy Secretary General for the Oceania Football Confederation and the only woman on the FIFA Reforms Committee before her appointment to Chief of Women’s Football.
• Leata Ala’imoana-Roberts is the inaugural Trade and Investment Commissioner for the Queensland Government having had extensive experience in Aviation Investment and Business, with previous roles as Manager of Aviation & Aerospace for the Queensland Government, and as Impact Investment Manager for Pacific Trade Invest Australia.
• Taulapapa Brenda Heather-Latu was selected in recognition as her appointment as the first woman official from the Pacific to be appointed as a Judicial Officer by World Rugby for this year’s Rugby World Cup 2023 in France from September to October 2023.
• Taulapapa has been chosen along with two other Samoans selected from New Zealand, on the World Cup Disciplinary Committee. They are former Manu Samoa and Highlanders player, District Court Judge Mike Mika, and former All Black and Manu Samoa player Aiolupotea Ofisa Tonu’u (Jr).

“So there will be Manu Samoa playing on the field, and also part of the World Rugby organization, and all join Sarai Bareman at FIFA as global ambassadors for sport from Samoa, which is something we can all celebrate and honour God’s great provision and blessings upon our land,” said Minister Mulipola.