The Lowy Institute's Australia–PNG Network produced a special Women in Politics series in the lead-up to Papua New Guinea's 2022 national election. In this series, Jessica Collins interviewed prominent Papua New Guinean women to explore why women's political representation in PNG remains so limited, and to highlight the structural, cultural, and institutional barriers that women face when seeking elected office.

The conversations examine:

• The historical underrepresentation of women in PNG's parliament.
• Social and cultural norms that shape attitudes toward women leaders.
• Party politics, campaign financing, and security challenges for women candidates.
• Possible reforms and support mechanisms to improve women's chances of election.

By centring the voices and experiences of PNG women leaders, the series aims to inform Australian and PNG audiences about the depth of the challenge and to contribute to ongoing debates about how to achieve more inclusive and representative politics in Papua New Guinea.