Ms. Suzie Bray or Mother Sue, as she is affectionately called at the UNDP Papua New Guinea Country Office, always has time for everyone. Be it issues affecting colleagues at home or at work, she listens and offers advice.

She says mental health, to be in the right frame of mind both at work and at home, is important and if a colleague is struggling, have a chat with them.

Suzie serves as the Administrative Assistant as part of the Operations Team.

She has a very busy and demanding daily schedule, her main duties consist of; providing support to the country office senior management, visa & consular certificate support, travel support, raise e-requisitions, assist procurement team with any queries/tasks. On top of all that, she is also the lead focal point for transport and logistics coordination for UNDP staff, programme offices, and other sister UN agencies.

Being someone who is not fazed easily, Suzie juggles multiple responsibilities and meets strict deadlines seamlessly.

“Achieving set goals and overcoming challenges is a satisfaction of mine, and motivates me to strive to do my best, in both my work and personal life,’’ she said.

She says she is driven and inspired by fellow Papua New Guinean women who have excelled to great heights in their careers.

‘’The former UNDP Country Office Assistant Resident Representative, Ms. Julie Bukikun, is someone I really admire and look up to; its empowering to know that a Papua New Guinean female can reach such levels of hierarchy.’’

‘’In the PNG culture, men usually reach such heights; but with the transition into the twenty-first century, women are now taking on the similar opportunities as our male counterparts, thus, gender equality is now feasible in our society.’’

Suzie has been with UNDP for two years now, in that time she has had the opportunity to witness firsthand and contribute towards the country office and its goal to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in PNG.

Suzie says that working for UNDP is one of her greatest and proudest achievements, and that it has always been a goal of hers to be part of the UN.

Suzie hails from Uritai village, in the Malalaua district, of the Gulf Province, in Papua New Guinea; but spent most of her life growing up in Port Moresby city.