Anne Naata was recently recruited as Finance Manager within the Kiribati Public Utilities Board.
Public Utilities Board Chief Financial Officer, Mereani Naisara, who is deployed and supported through the Australia-Pacific Partnerships Platform, encouraged Anne to apply for the role. Anne had been working in another government department as an analyst.
“Anne is smart, and she works hard. She has the qualifications needed for the Finance Manager role and I could see that she also had the attributes needed to fulfil the role. She is young, but when you are looking at the attributes needed for a role, age does not matter. With some mentoring, particularly around leadership skills, I am confident Anne will succeed. In fact, she already is,” Mereani said.
Anne has a Bachelor of Accounting from the University of Canberra in Australia, for which she received a scholarship through the Australia Awards program. Returning to Kiribati in 2022, she initially worked at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development before joining the Public Utilities Board.
“There are a limited number of people with a degree in accounting in Kiribati. This job allows me to apply my university skills in the career I’ve aimed for, contributing to the government’s services aligns with my passion,” Anne said.
Family support
Family support played a role in Anne’s decision to apply for the Finance Manager position and how she has approached the role since being appointed. While her family expressed some concerns initially given her age and experience, they supported her decision to apply. As an accountant herself, Anne’s mother understands the job requirements.
“They were worried at first about the finance manager job, but they’ve been very helpful since I’m working in the same field as my Mum,” Anne said.
Looking ahead
Anne is now looking to strengthen the Public Utilities Board finance team and aims to create training and other opportunities for finance personnel to enhance their skills and qualifications.
Career advice
For those considering their career paths, Anne said it is important to embrace challenges, seek qualifications and be open to learning and development. She emphasised the value of mentors, especially for women aspiring to leadership roles.
“It’s always important for us to seek out mentors, especially those who have experiences in life,” she said.