Congratulations to the five outstanding Papua New Guinean recipients of the 2025 Yumi Stap Wantaim Australia Alumni Awards, handed out during the Papua New Guinea Australia Alumni Association (PNGAAA) Annual Dinner in Port Moresby.
The Awards celebrate the achievements of Papua New Guinean alumni who studied in Australia and are now driving innovation, service, and leadership across the country.
This year’s event also marked Papua New Guinea’s 50th year of independence and the enduring partnership between PNG and Australia.
Australian High Commissioner His Excellency Mr Ewen McDonald who presented the Alumni of the Year Award, said: “Papua New Guinean alumni of Australian schools and universities have been some of this country’s most crucial architects, supporting health and education initiatives, building livelihoods, promoting gender equality, mentoring future leaders and strengthening institutions. They also highlight the importance of people-to-people links that make the PNG-Australian relationship so unique and so enduring.”
The 2025 Yumi Stap Wantaim Awards honour alumni across five categories:
- Alumni of the Year – Dr Hilda Audubo, Deputy Director of Public Health, Morobe Provincial Health Authority
- Community Service Award – Sr Bolena Azimo, Co-Founder and Maternal & Child Health Coordinator, Waniati Postnatal Integrated Clinic and Healthy Communities Initiative
- Women in Leadership Award – Celyn Tusalah, Principal, Bougainville Nursing College
- Frontline Service Delivery Award – Elizabeth Tandoa, Deputy Principal, Gerehu Secondary School
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award – Doreen Baine, Clinical Educator and Founder, Hearing Health Laboratory
“This award is not just for me — it’s for the communities we serve,” said Dr Audubo, who was recognised as Alumni of the Year. “My Australian education gave me the tools to lead, but it’s the people of Papua New Guinea who inspire the purpose behind every decision. This recognition strengthens my resolve to keep building a healthier, more inclusive nation.”
The evening also featured keynote addresses by Dame Carol Kidu and Dame Meg Taylor, who reflected on PNG’s 50-year journey and the importance of reimagining its future through leadership, gender equality, and partnership.
The event concluded with a farewell for the 2026 Australia Awards scholars, who will soon depart for study in Australia, joining a growing network of more than 17,000 alumni contributing to Papua New Guinea’s development.
Since 2018, the Australia Alumni Awards have showcased the profound impact of Papua New Guinean alumni who studied in Australia, honouring leaders who are shaping national progress, fostering bilateral ties and inspiring the next generation.
ENDS
Awardees with Australian High Commissioner Ewen McDonald and distinguished guests.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100