When Rayleen Rava took the stage at Abt’s 2025 International Women's Day event in Papua New Guinea (PNG), her introduction as the new Operations and Finance Lead for the PNG Women Lead program was met with overwhelming cheers.
For Rayleen, the moment was more than a career milestone. It represented something much bigger: the growing recognition that Papua New Guineans must be at the forefront, leading change and shaping their country’s future.
That belief sits at the heart of PNG Women Lead, an Australian Government program managed by Abt Global that works alongside local partners to advance gender equality across Papua New Guinea. Through the program, civil society and communities are working together to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in decision-making, create more economic opportunities for women and prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
For Abt, this work is deliberately grounded in the principle that lasting change is most effective when driven by those with the deepest understanding of their communities, context and priorities.
Rayleen’s professional journey in Abt shows what locally led development looks like in practice.
Pathways to leadership
Coming from a corporate accounting background, Rayleen initially saw international development as a new and unfamiliar space. What began as a professional transition soon became an opportunity to grow into leadership while contributing to meaningful change in her own country.
Over three years, Rayleen progressed through key roles with PNG Women Lead, moving from Grants Manager to Senior Program Manager, and into her current position as Operations and Finance Lead.
Today, Rayleen describes herself as a bridge between systems and people, frameworks and grounded realities, particularly when engaging with partners and communities across the country, where formal structures and professional hierarchies can sometimes create barriers. The power of local leadership is that it draws strength from lived experience. Rayleen highlights that Papua New Guinean staff bring an inherent understanding of cultural, political, and social dynamics, knowing how people in the community live and think. She explains, “Leading through a shared language and lived experience dismantles hierarchical structures and encourages transparent dialogue and collaborative partnerships.”
Creating conditions for growth
Her journey was strategically driven.
Rayleen’s success reflects a combination of her agency and ambition and the value of sustained investment in local leadership. Through intentional professional development opportunities, mentoring and exposure - supported by Abt and DFAT counterparts - she became a confident leader, helping shape the PNG Women Lead program direction. Throughout her progression, she worked alongside international technical advisers through a ‘buddy system’ that facilitated mutual knowledge sharing and helped her gain confidence and independence. A critical component of this was her direct exposure to DFAT and engagement in key decision-making forums. By shadowing her predecessor and Team Leader in high-level meetings while taking on ownership of critical functions like budget forecasting and management, strategic risk analysis, compliance oversight, and program delivery planning, Rayleen was able to raise her profile and reputation for strong performance. This proximity ensured that when the time came for her to step into a senior role, she was already a trusted and familiar face to the program’s partners.
She credits these experiences with helping her grow into leadership while empowering her to define her own path.
“They gave me autonomy to find out how to be more effective, while encouraging me to explore my own personal approach and style of working.” Rather than simply preparing her to support decision-making, these systems gave Rayleen the tools and confidence to lead with authority.
Inspiring the next generation
Today, Rayleen’s journey has come full circle. She now mentors young interns through Abt’s Emerging Professionals program, passing on the same guidance and support that once helped shape her own path.
Reflecting on the moment she stood on stage introducing herself as Operations and Finance Lead for PNG Women Lead, Rayleen remembers the overwhelming response from the audience.
“The room burst into cheers. That moment made me realise this journey is not just for me. It’s for all these other Papua New Guineans out there. It’s giving hope and showing that opportunities for growth exist if you have the ambition,” Rayleen explains.
Rayleen now measures leadership not by personal achievements, but by her ability to create pathways and show others what is possible.
Building leadership that lasts
Rayleen’s success is a beacon for other Papua New Guinean professionals and a testament to the power of representation.
Rayleen’s message to the sector is simple.
“Local talent and local staff can and are able to occupy positions of leadership.”
Investing in leaders like Rayleen ensures that expertise remains in the hands of those who call Papua New Guinea home.