President Jokowi has assigned Fientje Maritje Suebu as the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Niue. Being sworn in at the Indonesian State Palace on 12 January 2022, Fientje is the only female ambassador sworn in that day and the first West Papuan woman ambassador.
Her inauguration was marked by submitting Letters of Credence to the Governor General of New Zealand, Dame Cindy Kiro. They held this event on 22 February 2022 at the Governor’s house in Wellington. Let’s get to know more about this incredible lady from West Papuan here.
Who Is Fientje Maritje Suebu?
Fientje was born in Sentani, the capital of Jayapura Regency, West Papua. Her father is a tribal chief with 5 children, but Fietnje is the only daughter in her family. She acknowledged that being an Indonesian diplomat and a mother is tough due to all the duties and responsibilities.
Her children have to adjust to different systems in education due to her different assigned locations. Moreover, her family has to travel to many countries every 3 to 4 years. However, she is grateful to her family because both her husband, Philipus Sarwon, and her children supportive. Thus, she can always maximize her potential.
Fientje’s Education and Diplomatic Career
According to Fientje Maritje Suebu Wikipedia, she attended her senior high school in Jayapura and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, before continuing her study at Cendrawasih University, West Papua. In 1985 she achieved her bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature from this university.
This amazing lady from West Papua can become an ambassador for more than three decades due to her diplomatic experiences. Here is her brief diplomatic career at the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia:
1985 – the 2000s
Fientje joined Sekolah Dinas Luar Negeri (Junior Diplomatic Training Unit) right after she graduated from university. This institution is her starting point for becoming a diplomat because the Indonesian Foreign Affairs recruited her as its staff in 1986.
After three years of serving as a staff at the International Organization Directorate, she was then assigned as Secretary II. She was positioned in the Republic of Indonesia’s embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 1989 – 1993.
Between 1993 to 1997, Fientje achieved a higher position: as the Head of the Section at the Directorate General of Politics for Africa and Middle East in Jakarta and became a Counsellor at the Indonesian Representative Office for the Europe Community in Brussels, Belgium, in 1997.
2000 – now
Her career improved because from 2001 to 2004, she was the Deputy Director at the Directorate of American and European Affairs. From June 2004 – July 2008, she became the Minister Counsellor at the Indonesian Embassy in New Delhi, India.
Later, she became the Divisional Head of administration and documentation at Asia Pacific and Africa’s Secretariat Directorate General.
This achievement does not stop her career because, from 2012 -2016, she was the Minister Counsellor at the Indonesian embassy in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Her last position before president Jokowi assigned her to be the Indonesian woman ambassador was the Deputy Chief of Mission in the Indonesian embassy in New Delhi, India.
Final Words
Being the first West Papuan woman ambassador is extraordinary because many Papuan women are still striving for their best. However, Fientje wants to inspire her fellow Papuan women to fight for their best.
She has confidence in Papuan women that they can be the game changer in whatever fields they are best at. In the end, there will be more and more Papuan women who can reach their highest professional positions like Fientje Maritje Suebu. So, hopefully, her profile will also inspire us all.
