A young Papua New Guinean woman has received a prestigious award from the 2026 Commonwealth Youth Programme as the runner-up for the Pacific region.
Phillie Julai Marai, 30, from Toburutue Village in Bitapaka LLG, East New Britain Province, received her award on Monday morning in Port Moresby, all the way from London, United Kingdom.
The award arrived as a surprise package delivered by DHL as she prepared to start her usual day at work.
The winner of the Commonwealth Youth Award for the Pacific Region was fellow Papua New Guinean Aileen Zuhukepe, who was recognised for her outstanding work in founding Project Impact, a voluntary breast ultrasound screening programme for rural women in Morobe Province.
Mrs Marai was among the top 20 youths selected from 977 entries around the globe and recognised for their efforts in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their communities.
The youths came from various fields, including social entrepreneurship, journalism, environmental advocacy, writing, innovation, and human rights activism from all five regions of the Commonwealth.
She received the award through her work as the National Coordinator for the Senisim PNG Program with PNG Tribal Foundation, facilitating the leadership program since 2023 under the mentorship of Tribal Foundation Chief Executive Officer Gary Bustin.
The Senisim PNG Program was established in 2022 through a partnership with the John Maxwell Foundation and is a values-based leadership program introduced in Papua New Guinea.
Mrs Marai coordinated the program, which has reached over 10,000 people who have participated in transformation tables and become certified facilitators.
She said the program had reached universities, colleges, workplaces, churches, communities, homes, and families, as well as Papua New Guineans living and working in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility Scheme.
“I take direction from CEO Mr Bustin to ensure the program is managed and implemented in a timely and systematic manner,” she said.
She is responsible for recruitment, training, team management, and performance management.
She works closely with partners and resolves issues as they arise.
While managing the program and her team, she also facilitates training for interested groups to become facilitators and run transformation tables.
Mrs Marai graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in PNG Studies and International Relations.
In the same year, she started working with PNG Tribal Foundation.
She is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Pacific Australia Youth Association (PAYA) and the Operations Director for Roman Grammar School in Kokopo, East New Britain Province.
She is also mother to a three year old and wife.