Solomon woman breaks boundaries
The Pacific Islands come with unique, strong culture and traditions for women, but a mum of two has set a record for her family and province, by becoming the only female aircraft engineer at Solomon Airlines.
Thirty-seven-year-old Norah Morisudah hails from the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. She is completing her Diploma in Business Management at Wintec this year, under the NZ Manaaki Short Term Training Scholarship.
Morisudah is the eldest of her three siblings, she has two sons, Donald Toate’e and Zuriel Toate’e, with her husband Billy Toate’e.
Morisudah loves to work with people, and by taking up this programme, she has learned how to understand management, leadership and ways to connect with people in her job.
She has been working for the Solomon Airlines for over 16 years, starting as an aircraft engineer apprentice in 2007. In 2012 she worked as an avionic aircraft maintenance engineer and completed her Certificate IV in aircraft maintenance and engineering (avionics) at the Fiji National University. Since 2016 she has been working in the role of an aircraft planner and administrator.
Coming from the province of Malaita, Kwaio of the Solomon Islands, with its traditional culture that women are supposed to be staying at home, getting married, having kids and looking after their families, she said, “Not many women work in this field at home”.
She said she was inspired by her late father – Solomon Morisudah to work as an engineer.
“Being a woman working in this job, gives me pride to say to other women out there, that we women also have the same capacity as what men can do”.
Don’t let any obstacle stop you from achieving your goals.
norah morisudah
Throughout the years, she has enjoyed her job and said, “What I love about my role, it makes me feel that I have contributed to my home country by making sure the aircraft is serviceable and safe for those that are travelling on the plane”.
To be away from family and kids has been difficult she said, “But the Hamilton Solomon Islands Community has been supportive and helped me throughout this year of study”.
The community arranged trips, events and by participating makes her not miss home, so she feels that she has a second family in Kirikiriroa.
Morisudah encourages Solomon and other Pacific Island women, “Don’t let whatever obstacles stop you from achieving your goals”, and she highly recommends Wintec for further study.
