Business awards for three outstanding Tongan women [1]
Monday, October 24, 2005 - 10:13. Updated on Thursday, October 2, 2014 - 13:36.
Three Tongan women, Lu‘isa Matele Uata, Mele Taumoepeau and Talaivosa Ueleni, have won this year's Tonga Women in Business awards run by the Westpac Bank of Tonga.
They received their awards from HRH Princess Pilolevu Tuita, the Patron of the awards, at a celebratory business dinner held at the Queen Salote Memorial Hall in Nuku'alofa on October 18.
Lu‘isa Uata of the Uata Trading and Shipping Line was the recipient of the Business Woman of the Year award; Mele Taumoepeau, the Principal of Liahona High School, the Executive woman of the Year; and Talaivosa Ueleni Deputy Secretary of the Commerce Division of the Ministry of Labour and Commerce won the new category of Young Executive Woman of the Year. Mele Taumoepeau was not present at the awards ceremony but her daughter Tupou received her award on her behalf.
Prizes for the three women included a cash prize of $5,000 pa‘anga each for Lu‘isa and Mele and $3,000 for Talaivosa as well as a paid trip for all to attend the Telstra Women in Business Awards dinner in Australia on October 21.
The Westpac Business Women of the Year awards were first held in Nuku‘alofa last year.
Business Woman of the Year
This year's Tonga Business Woman of the Year, Mrs Lu'isa Uata, is the Managing Director of a 40 year old family business, the Uata Trading and Shipping Line, which she and her husband 'Uliti Uata have built into one of the largest and most successful family owned businesses in Tonga.
A video presentation prepared by the Westpac Bank of Tonga, and shown on the awards night, said that the Uata business had humble beginnings, in a small retail shop in Nuku...alofa selling mutton flaps with minimal capital.
"What makes their story even more outstanding was the fact that Lu...isa and her husband didn...t have the privileges of gaining formal education nor did they have any family legacies to give them an easy leg up.... Their journey towards their dream has been difficult and challenging."
Today the Uata business is a multi-million dollar turnover conglomerate with its core business in domestic passenger and cargo shipping,. Other subsidiaries of the business include retailing, property rental, live fish export, and welding and manufacturing businesses. The Uata shipping company has operated 11 cargo and passengers boat in their years of operation, and currently operates three cargo and passenger boats, which carry thousands of passengers and tons of cargo to Tonga...s outer islands on an annual basis and also Fiji.
As Managing Director Lu'isa makes most of the company...s day to day decisions with the major decisions being made in consultation with her husband who is the only other shareholder and director of the company. They have 11 children and 37 grandchildren, and Lu...isa can proudly count two doctorate holders amongst her children with the others also well educated.
Executive woman of the Year
Mele Taumoepeau, the Executive woman of the Year, has been the principal of Liahona High School since 1996. During this period, Mele has revolutionized the work culture of the school and as a consequence, the school has seen numerous best performance results in academic achievements, sporting events, inter school competitions, arts, vocational achievement as well as stakeholder relation.
In 2004 the school achieved a record high in External Examination Results These high benchmarks in performance saw a 100% increase in external exam passes since 1996 when Mele first became principal of the school.
Westpac Bank of Tonga said that Mele...s many outstanding achievements as principal of Liahona High School also include establishing a Liberal Studies Program for the school which has been expanded to include other LDS secondary schools
"She drives cultural change through empowering her teachers and students via delegated authorities, nurturing decision making skills, and most of all providing a work environment where her staff respect rather than fear management. She leads by example and rewards high performance appropriately
She is married to Afu Taumoepeau and has a family.
Young Executive Woman of the Year
Dr Talaivosa Ueleni is currently the youngest person in Government to hold the post of Deputy Secretary. Dr Ueleni is responsible for the Commerce Division of the Ministry. Her responsibilities include leading 25 qualified and non qualified staff in formulating Tonga...s trade policies geared at enhancing trade development in the country. She is also responsible for coordinating sectoral dialogue on business policies and regulations. Dr Ueleni...s other responsibilities include the development of policies to enhance business and protect consumers. Dr. Ueleni is a critical member of the Competent Authority Committee, Tonga National Food & Nutrition, National Codex Alimentarious Committee as well as the Customs Tariff Review Committee.
Talaivosa holds both a Masters Degree and Doctrate degree in International studies from Waseda University in Japan.
Women in Business Awards 2005, Finalists
Westpac/Global Insurance & ICT/Air New Zealand/ Tonfon Communications ...Young Executive Woman of the Year... Award 2005, finalists,
- Mrs. Taina Kami Enoka ... Editor, Tongan Woman magazine,
- Mrs. Freda Vete Lavulo ... Manageress, Fotofix Nuku...alofa,
- Miss Elaine Howard ... Director, Tongan National Youth Congress,
- Dr. Talaivosa Ueleni ... Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries.
Westpac/Global Insurance & ICT/ Molisi Tonga Limited Executive Woman of the Year 2005, finalists,
Mrs. Gladys Siulangapo Fukofuka ... Manager Finance,
Tonga Communications Corporation;
Mrs. Seini Vaiola Fifita ... Manager Human Resources, Tonga Development Bank;
Sr. Dr. Keiti Ann Kanongata...a ... Director/Manager Lilo ...i Tafa...anga Theological Institute;
Mrs. Mele Taumopeau ... Principal, Liahona High School.
Westpac/Global Insurance & ICT/ O.S.B Trading & Mana Creations Business Woman of the Year 2005, finalists,
Ms. Charlotte Cocker ... Managing Director, Royco Amalgamated;
Ms. Tekiteki Prescott ... Owner, Sadaf Enterprises;
Mrs. Janine Le Strange ... Director, Hakula Lodge, Adams Multi Video and Hibiscus Hut, (Vava...u);
Mrs. Lu'isa Uata- Director, Uata Shipping and Walter Trading.