Siulai Fioana Elisala, a proud Australia Awards alumnus from Funafuti, is challenging gender and cultural norms by leading in Tuvalu’s construction and infrastructure sector.
With a strong belief that women can add value to any industry, in 2010, Siulai commenced a Bachelor of Construction Management and Economics (Honours), and then in 2016 enhanced this with a Master of Project Management, both at the University of South Australia as an Australian Awards scholar.
Looking back on her Australian experience, Siulai emphasised her personal growth through overcoming the many challenges she faced in adapting to different social and academic environments.
“If you have the courage, and believe in yourself, you can achieve anything.”
Siulai is now the Project Manager of the World Bank funded Maritime Investment in Climate Resilient Operations (MICRO) Project. She oversees the development of buoy-harbours throughout Tuvalu’s outer islands, where she is applying her learning in management planning and risk assessment to achieve success.
Siulai’s long-term plan is to contribute to Tuvalu’s sustainable infrastructure development and she remains focused on this with gratitude to the Government of Australia and the opportunities she has received.