Meet the Team: Gabriella Kisapai

Inspiring Leadership through Hockey 

Meet Gabriella Kisapai, a former national hockey player and the current Let’s Whistle Coordinator for the Hook in4 Health program in Papua New Guinea. The program aims to remove barriers to sports and community involvement for women, girls, and people with a disability, using hockey as a means to develop more women leaders.

Gabriella first represented Papua New Guinea in field hockey at the Oceania Pacific Cup in Suva, Fiji, in 2010. She continued to compete until 2013, with her final tournament at the Oceania Cup in New Zealand that year.

Utilising her hockey experience, Gabriella began as a volunteer with the Hook in4 Health program in 2023. Her dedication and commitment quickly earned her a full-time role as Coordinator in February this year. Since joining the program, she has advanced significantly, including being appointed as an umpire at her first international event last year, becoming a role model for women in the program.

Reflecting on her international umpiring experience Gabriella said, "Umpiring at the Gold Coast was a new experience for me. The communication technology made it easy to stay connected with the other umpires, and I even received praise for making a crucial call that others couldn’t see. It showed me the importance of staying focused and teamwork.”

In her full-time role with the program, Gabriella has made significant contributions and expressed her gratitude for the support and opportunities she has received.

“Hockey has always been a big part of my family, so joining this program and using my passion for the sport to help others, especially women in rural areas who need the most support, felt natural. The program not only offers hockey sessions but also teaches valuable skills like sewing, which helps the mamas to become financially independent and support their families.”

Gabriella also highlighted the importance of collaboration, particularly between organisations. She specially shared the impact of the Rotary Club’s donation of sewing machines to local women, or “mamas” who participate in the program. 

“These machines have empowered the mamas to learn sewing, create garments, and earn an income. This perfectly aligns with Hi4H’s mission to use hockey as a tool for developing women leaders. By collaborating with other organisations we can achieve a greater impact.”

According to Oceania Hockey Federation’s Regional Development Officer Gill Gemming, Gabriella has grown in confidence during her time with Hook in4 Health. 

“She is now leading groups instead of assisting and it helps that the areas that she is involved with are areas that she is accomplished in, but Gabriella has also demonstrated a willingness to ask questions to continue her learning.

Late last year she was offered part-time employment to run the Let’s Whistle sessions, and later offered a full-time contract and is currently in Manus working beside the mamas, helping them with their sewing skills.

Apart from her love for hockey, Gabriella is also an accomplished seamstress and is using her skills to assist the women in using their Rotary-donated sewing machines, which were handed to them in 2023.”

Supported by the Australian Government’s Team Up, the Hook in4 Health program in PNG is delivered in partnership between Hockey PNG, Oceania Hockey, Hockey Australia, Family Planning NSW, Flinders University and Aspire To Be Deadly (Cairns Hockey).