Ms Josephine Laka interviewing women leaders at Kiunga WaterFront
Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) Livelihood Development Program (LDP) Team Leader Ms. Josephine Laka has been awarded an opportunity to participate in the Crawford Fund e-mentoring program.
OTDF Chief Executive Officer Havini Vira was delighted to announce that as a result of Ms. Laka’s commitment to the ACIAR and the CSIRO fisheries project and in recognition of future potential, she was offered a place on the Crawford Fund Fellowship (CFF) program.
Under this CFF program, Ms. Laka will be mentored by an Australian academic in research/program management starting this year. “Congratulations Josephine and look forward to great results.”
The OTDF CEO too was a recipient while with OTML in 2006 and found it very useful.
The focus is on developing and supporting the individual rather than increasing specific technical knowledge.
After her nomination, Crawford obtained Ms. Laka’s details and interests to match her with an appropriate mentor.
Crawford invited nominations of 3-4 potential mentees from ACIAR. Josephine was nominated by OTDF and considered by the Crawford Fund Program. She is currently working on an ACIAR project to develop alternative small-scale fishery models for women in the Fly River, of PNG. In this context, Crawford has paired her with Associate Professor Amy Diedrich (mentor), an environmental social scientist, Deputy Director, at the Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, James Cook University.
About the mentee program
Ms Laka during the presentation of the certificate at the NRI Training Center in Port Moresby
The program develops a relationship working with mentors and mentees and having a mentor can be a transformative experience if you allow it to be. A mentor is a trusted, professional colleague who will accompany you on a wonderful journey of discovery. How much you discover and where your journey takes you, is up to you.
Josephine is thrilled about this opportunity and acknowledges OTDF, explaining it is not only beneficial to her, but also to others she works with, as she serves as a mentor on OTDF’s GDS program.
Read more on Crawford at: https://www.crawfordfund.org/awards/crawford-fund-fellowship/