About PGWNet

Pacific Graduate Women's Network (PGWNet) is a living, expanding and strengthening network, linking individual and groups of graduate women throughout the Pacific. It uses modern technology wherever possible to communicate quickly and widely to share ideas and information.

PGWNet's Mission is:

• to advocate for improvements in the status of women and girls in the Pacific region so that they can contribute to the social, political and business life of their country and assume decision making and leadership roles.
• to promote life-long education for women and girls in the Pacific region in order that they can take their rightful place in business, education and employment sectors, science and technology and the arts.
• to enable graduate women in the Pacific region to use their expertise to effect social, political and economic change which recognises the human rights of women and girls.

2008 PGWNet Council Meeting, Tonga

PGWNet is the youngest of the seven Regional Groupings of the International Federation of University Women (IFUW), which links 160,000 women graduates world-wide, with affiliates in 77 countries. PGWNet and its members participate in all IFUW activities.

The governing body of PGWNet is a Council comprised of representatives from member associations. PGWNet's Inaugural Council Meeting was hosted by Fiji Association of Women Graduates in Suva, Fiji, in July 1999 and included members of the Australian and New Zealand Federations of University Women as well as representatives from several other Pacific Island Countries.

Since then, PGWNet has grown rapidly to include active groups of graduate women in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga with membership interest in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. As well, there are individual members living and working in other nations in the Pacific region.