Meet Fientje Suebe, the First Woman and Native Papuan Appointed as Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand
NEWS — November 2021
Ibu or Madam Fientje Suebu, an Indonesian diplomat from Sentani Papua, was sworn in as Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) to New Zealand by the President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi). She was inaugurated along with 17 other ambassadors by Jokowi at the Jakarta Presidential Palace on Monday (25/10/2021).
Prior to her inauguration, Fientje Suebu was declared to have passed the fit and proper test conducted on Monday (12/7/2021) to Wednesday (14/7/2021). She has been working at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 31 years. Before being appointed as the New Zealand Embassy, Fientje served as Deputy Head of Representative at the Indonesian Embassy to India since 2018.
With her career, Fietnje is willing to show that Indonesian women, especially Papuan women, can become agents of change in their respective fields. Indonesian women can occupy executive, legislative, or judicial positions. Most importantly, though, that they are truly competitive in this era of globalization.
“We must strive to do our best in life and feel good about it, whether at work, at home, raising a family and nurturing relationships, educating children, or anything,” Fientje said. Apart from her duty as the diplomat, Fientje is a wife of a devoting pastor and a mother of three exceptional children.
Fientje’s position as Ambassador of New Zealand is very strategic because she is hoped to promote Papua, especially in the Pacific region, given Papua’s strategic entry points for trade and the economy in the Pacific.
Further, Fientje Suebu’s appointment as the Indonesian Ambassador proves national affirmation commitment towards the Indigenous Papuans (OAP). Fientje’s presence as New Zealand Ambassador is also expected to give a brighter color to Indonesia’s diplomacy in the Pacific region. Good luck Ibu Fientje!
