Strong futures: meet the women poised to lead Pacific tennis

On the first weekend in September, representatives of the next generation of Pacific tennis administrators met in Nadi, Fiji, for the start of the 2024-25 Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis program. Now in its third year, the professional development program is a joint initiative between Tennis Australia and the Australian Government, delivered through PacificAus Sports.

Eleven women from eight Pacific nations took part in workshops, training sessions and leadership development activities. The program aims to equip the women to take the next step in their careers, engaging in professional roles on sporting boards, committees, and national and regional sporting organisations.

This year, the launch event was facilitated by Barbara Stubbings, President of the Papua New Guinea Tennis Association, and Andrea Buckeridge, Tennis Australia’s Head of Women and Girls.

Also on hand to support participants were Fiji’s Lusiana Vakere, representing the Oceania Tennis Federation (OTF), Isabelle Gemmel, Head of International Engagement for Tennis Australia, and Vicki Reid, Tennis Australia’s Director of Government and Social Impact.

“This program, more than anything, provides a network of support,” says Vicki Reid. “[It’s] about providing opportunities for women to develop the skills, and the confidence, and the network to succeed.”

Meet the leaders

The cohort attending the 2024-25 Pacific Women Leaders in Tennis program travelled to Fiji from Nauru, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

• Eglynda Bagadouwe is the Team Manager and Deputy Secretary of the Nauru Tennis Federation, a responsibility she fulfils while also working at the Nauru Maritime and Port Authority as a Procurement Officer and Finance Administration Assistant. Eglynda began playing tennis as a young girl and is committed to raising the profile of the sport she loves.

  

   

• Yvonne Carruthers is the President of Tennis Samoa Inc, having contributed to the development of the sport for more than 26 years in roles including coach, administrator, team manager, school programs manager, tournament director and development coordinator. Yvonne began her journey as a coach by introducing the game to her five daughters, all of whom went on to win local and international tournaments.

  

   

• Nadya Domashneva-Va’a also comes from Samoa, and is an active board member of Tennis Samoa Inc. Her passion for tennis runs deep, inspired largely by her son who has been playing the sport since 2018. Nadya spent many years fulfilling all the duties of a ‘tennis parent’ before taking up a professional role as a communications assistant and photographer at Vailima Tennis Academy in Apia.

  

   

• Tonga’s Karen Fonua, started playing tennis when she was 14. Her involvement in the game lapsed for several years as she first studied photography and then accounting, before moving to Australia and starting a family there. Seven years ago, she and her husband moved back to Tonga, and she soon found herself immersed in tennis again as three of her four children took up the sport. These days she works in the family’s tourism and catering businesses while also serving as a Tonga Tennis Association Board Member.

  

   

• Nauru’s Brancia Kalyn Itismaera was just six when she first picked up a tennis racket, later representing her country in junior tournaments such as the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships. Her education became her first priority as she got older, but in 2022 she was persuaded by a friend to return to the game.  This year Brancia was elected Secretary of the Nauru Tennis Association.

  

   

• The youngest member of the 2024-25 cohort is Lorraine Kaiulo from the Central and Milne Bay provinces of PNG. Tennis has a long history in Lorraine’s family, first taken up by her grandfather who later shared his love for the game with her father. She began playing as a young child, and although she is less active on the court these days, she remains a firm supporter of tennis in PNG, contributing as a coach and administrator.

  

   

• Sarojini Lal from Fiji is currently a board member of the Suva Lawn Tennis Club. She is an enthusiastic social player, while her daughter is a keen junior competitor, participating in regional tournaments. Sarojini’s ambition is to promote tennis as a lifelong sport, suitable for amateurs and professionals alike.

  

   

• Suliana Fehikitaki he lotu Mausia from Tonga began playing tennis at the age of ten, inspired by her older brothers who competed in the Pacific Games. Suliana also competed in international tennis tournaments in Fiji, Samoa and American Samoa during her playing career, and is now focussed on supporting the game to grow in her home country.

  

   

• Fenuatapu Mesako has been a member of the Tuvalu Tennis Association since 2020, and currently serves as Treasurer. A nurse and midwife, Fenuatapu is also a project manager for the Tuvalu Family Health Association, a non-government organisation that promotes and supports sexual reproductive health in the community, with a focus on people living with disabilities, maritime workers and people in correctional facilities.

  

   

• Vanuatu’s Daisy Rose Sipiti was an enthusiastic tennis player during her high school days, representing her country in both regional and international tournaments. During her time as a competitor, she also worked as a coach and development officer at the Vanuatu Tennis Federation, encouraging more young people to take up the sport. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Business (Human Resource Management) at Victoria University in Melbourne.

  

   

• Cynthia Wickham is currently the interim Treasurer of the Solomon Islands Tennis Federation, having first been introduced to the sport just last year when her eight-year-old son was enrolled in a development program. She has already helped drive some important changes, including putting coaching staff on a regular salary, and expanding the youth development program from three days to six days.

  

Daring to dream big

Over the next three months, the women will continue their professional development by taking part in a series of training courses delivered online. They will gather again in Melbourne at the start of next year, celebrating their graduation from the program and strengthening their connections by spending time together at the 2025 Australian Open.

Vicki Reid from Tennis Australia says the Grand Slam event is “an opportunity for the women to come and see what is possible”. Speaking at the close of last year’s program, she added:

“[We are] proud of our ongoing relationship with the Pacific and our partnership with national federations to build the capacity of women leaders in tennis…It is so important for women to take on leadership roles in their communities, so women and girls have an equal voice and the ability to influence decision making. Having more women in leadership positions helps to create a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment for all.”