Ep. 117 - PNG Diaspora Spotlight: Michelle Wong on Resilience, Business & Giving Back

In Episode 117 of The Unkles Podcast, we launch the PNG Diaspora Business Council of Australia (PNGDBCA) Spotlight Series ahead of the inaugural Australian PNG Diaspora Trade & Investment Delegation to Papua New Guinea (February 2026).Our first spotlight features Michelle Wong, owner of CU@N8's, a pool hall and bistro in Ipswich. Michelle shares her journey from growing up in Kavieng, Papua New Guinea, to building a life and business in Australia, navigating identity, resilience, and the realities of small business ownership.We talk about resilience as a daily practice, balancing a full-time career in insurance with entrepreneurship, the importance of family and culture, and why the PNG diaspora has a critical role to play in supporting trade, skills transfer, and opportunity back home.This episode explores diaspora identity, third-culture experiences, small business, and the responsibility of giving back, offering insight for anyone interested in PNG business, Pacific entrepreneurship, and diaspora-led development.