L-R: Trisha Nangoi, Esther Martin, Edwina Raviki and Tracey Oi at the TropicAir Limited Terminal in Port Moresby

In 1996, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed that December 7, would be commemorated as International Civil Aviation Day. This was done to generate awareness of the importance of international civil aviation and the role it plays in a country’s development.

In line with UN Agenda 2030, embarking on a new era in global sustainable development, aviation has never been more relevant today, as an engine of global connectivity, with international flights, a fundamental enabler of global peace and prosperity.

To commemorate International Civil Aviation Day, TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited (TotalEnergies), Operator of the Papua LNG project, showcases five incredible women working in Logistics – exemplifying how more women in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are rising to the occasion, taking on jobs out of their comfort zone.

Meet Edwina, Tracey, Esther, Trisha and Sharon

Flight Coordinators Edwina Raviki (at the time of writing) and her back-to-back Tracey Oi, are in charge of coordinating, tracking and monitoring daily Fixed-wing chartered flights operated by Project partner TropicAir Limited.

In 2023, with the assistance of a dedicated team, they oversaw the safe transit of 120 passengers a week, flying to the Papua LNG Upstream Logistics site or returning to Port Moresby, for their breaks.

“Most people get us mixed up with the Travel Team. For Tracey and I, our roles are specific to flight coordination for charters, so we only monitor the chartered flights – the fixed wing – and we are the sole users of our internal tracking systems,” explains Edwina.

“It’s been less challenging than I expected… but it’s good, because there’s less stress. Being with Exxon, I know how big it can go and the late nights that I would have had, doing the same job,” she adds. 

Hailing from Gulf, Tracey joined TotalEnergies in 2022, previously being based with InterOil in the project prior, then with Oilmin and was thrown in the deep end, having to learn the ins and outs on the job.

“There’s so many things about aviation that you need to know, such as the Pilot’s flying hours, the aircraft age; these are all requirements and if they are not compliant, you need to apply for derogation and provide documents,” says Tracey.

“There’s such a great team spirit here at TotalEnergies, especially within the operations team – everyone was helpful, talking about their experiences and how they dealt with challenges or unique situations. They were open to sharing their knowledge as well,” she added.

Working closely with Tracey and Edwina, site-based Flight Dispatcher Esther Martin, from Western Highlands, states that one of the most exciting things about her job is how much she has been able to learn, through working with different aircrafts.

Currently the only female in her team based on site in a majority male flight team, it is her job to monitor flights from when they start their journey until they land to make sure there are no issues in between. Capturing all the daily flight details, cargo movements, entering them into the aviation database. 

“I find it exciting to see the passengers smiling faces – especially the field crew who are working in the bush. Even though the weather may be closing in on them, we do our best to bring them safely back to site and they’re smiles on their safe returns, is what’s rewarding for me,” she states.

“I also manage the Journey Management Centre, monitoring the field movements for all personnel on site. So, when they go out on missions or into the communities, they have to come and report to me with all the forms and necessary documents,” she added.In 1996, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed that December 7, would be commemorated as International Civil Aviation Day. This was done to generate awareness of the importance of international civil aviation and the role it plays in a country’s development.

In line with UN Agenda 2030, embarking on a new era in global sustainable development, aviation has never been more relevant today, as an engine of global connectivity, with international flights, a fundamental enabler of global peace and prosperity.

To commemorate International Civil Aviation Day, TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited (TotalEnergies), Operator of the Papua LNG project, showcases five incredible women working in Logistics – exemplifying how more women in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are rising to the occasion, taking on jobs out of their comfort zone.

Meet Edwina, Tracey, Esther, Trisha and Sharon

Flight Coordinators Edwina Raviki (at the time of writing) and her back-to-back Tracey Oi, are in charge of coordinating, tracking and monitoring daily Fixed-wing chartered flights operated by Project partner TropicAir Limited.

In 2023, with the assistance of a dedicated team, they oversaw the safe transit of 120 passengers a week, flying to the Papua LNG Upstream Logistics site or returning to Port Moresby, for their breaks.

“Most people get us mixed up with the Travel Team. For Tracey and I, our roles are specific to flight coordination for charters, so we only monitor the chartered flights – the fixed wing – and we are the sole users of our internal tracking systems,” explains Edwina.

“It’s been less challenging than I expected… but it’s good, because there’s less stress. Being with Exxon, I know how big it can go and the late nights that I would have had, doing the same job,” she adds. 

Hailing from Gulf, Tracey joined TotalEnergies in 2022, previously being based with InterOil in the project prior, then with Oilmin and was thrown in the deep end, having to learn the ins and outs on the job.

“There’s so many things about aviation that you need to know, such as the Pilot’s flying hours, the aircraft age; these are all requirements and if they are not compliant, you need to apply for derogation and provide documents,” says Tracey.

“There’s such a great team spirit here at TotalEnergies, especially within the operations team – everyone was helpful, talking about their experiences and how they dealt with challenges or unique situations. They were open to sharing their knowledge as well,” she added.

Working closely with Tracey and Edwina, site-based Flight Dispatcher Esther Martin, from Western Highlands, states that one of the most exciting things about her job is how much she has been able to learn, through working with different aircrafts.

Currently the only female in her team based on site in a majority male flight team, it is her job to monitor flights from when they start their journey until they land to make sure there are no issues in between. Capturing all the daily flight details, cargo movements, entering them into the aviation database. 

“I find it exciting to see the passengers smiling faces – especially the field crew who are working in the bush. Even though the weather may be closing in on them, we do our best to bring them safely back to site and they’re smiles on their safe returns, is what’s rewarding for me,” she states.

“I also manage the Journey Management Centre, monitoring the field movements for all personnel on site. So, when they go out on missions or into the communities, they have to come and report to me with all the forms and necessary documents,” she added.

The youngest and first intern for the Logistics team, Trisha Nangoi from Morobe shares how although she initially studied Communications for Development studies at university, she is grateful to have been given the opportunity to work and learn in a field she sees herself full time in now.

“This is my first job, after I graduated last year in April and I applied and interviewed for a Methods Analyst position, but then they did away with that position. So, because I was a fresh graduate, they decided to give me a logistics intern role,” she says.

Reporting to the Methods, Tools & Compliance Coordinator Sharon Yeviura, Trisha is happy to have been given the opportunity to learn and be a part of a team, where she feels nurtured, especially by Sharon, who was initially one of only two flight coordinators in 2017.

Born and raised in Madang, Sharon says, although she is currently in a field she did not study in school, she is grateful for her career thus far, this being her longest form of employment since finishing from university.  

In charge of updating and maintaining the PTS system that the team currently uses to enter data, after having been privileged to attend training on the system in Paris, France, she was a flight coordinator for only a year, after showcasing her initiative.

“I enjoyed the flight coordination work because every day I’m speaking to someone and it’s interesting because you find out new things but growth requires change – I am much more confident in the current role that I’m in,” she says.

“I’ve had many opportunities to fly in a helicopter for the first time; had the opportunity to attend training sessions in Paris, France, on three different occasions; this company has given me a lot then what I’ve expected and I’ve grown so much in my career here,” she added. 

On having a female boss and Advice

Reporting to female Logistics Manager Charlotte Doyelle, Sharon, Tracey, Edwina, Trisha and Esther all genuinely believe the environment is such where everyone is equally learning something from each other.

“She (Charlotte) likes to be prepared and always wants to know what’s happening, so it’s nice to have a boss like that – it’s good for the team because it makes them feel like they can approach her, she’s very approachable, her door is always open for you,” said Edwina.

“My advice to young girls looking to join this field, would be just to have an open mind set, not restricting yourself, will bring you places because you have to adapt to what’s there for you,” adds Sharon.

 “Be optimistic, keep an open mind. I wasn’t ready for this job to be honest, even when I was told that it was an admin role. Embrace the changes and surprises,” says Tracey.

“If you’ve been educated, you have a reason or a purpose, keep going, don’t give up and always ask God for directions. Even if I didn’t find a job in the field that I studied, I realised that sometimes our roads are different,” says Esther. 

“If you think that there’s an opportunity for you and even if it’s small you take it, because you never know where it will lead you. Sometimes the plans God has for us are different,” she adds.