A newly elected team has been tasked to lead the Cook Islands Business and Professional Women for the rest of this year.

The executives were elected at the group’s annual general meeting this week.

The committee welcomed a new president: Debi Futter-Puati; Vice President: Liana Scott; Treasurer, Anna Glassie, with Moce Lord as Assistant Treasurer; Secretary: Mata Puia; Executive Members: Wendel Karati and Diya Welland and Patron: Helen Henry.

Futter-Puati, who is the University of the South Pacific (USP) Cook Islands campus director, said: “We are delighted about the upcoming events and supportive measures we have to share with you as we continue to explore Pito’enua and the empowerment of Cook Islands Women.”

She defined success personally as “being able to use my energy, creativity, and intelligence to support people being able to live their best life”.

The biggest overall lesson Futter-Puati said she had learnt through business and her work was the importance of work/life balance.

“If you do not look after yourself, and your family, you will not be able to give your full self to your work.”

The organisation as a whole expressed their excitement for the upcoming Emerging Entrepreneur Awards as well as the celebration Gala in October which will honour 30 years of the Cook Islands Business and Professional Women.

The non-profit organisation aims to celebrate and support women working in the private, public and NGO sectors in the Cook Islands. Made up of women in a variety of working fields in the Cook Islands, their main values include networking, development and leadership in action.