Meet the Cadet – Wati Seeto

21 hours ago
4 min read

In the second of a series spotlighting this year’s cadets of the Rescued session, Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH chatted with Wati Seeto about waking up at 3am with a deep certainty that God was calling her to officership, being a big-picture leader, her love of crafts – and her go-to pick me up song.

Wati, rewind for us ... when did the call to officership hit, and what made you say that big ‘yes’?

I first sensed God’s call in my late teens, but I kept putting it off to focus on my legal career. Everything shifted after a congress in New Zealand in 2023. At 3am on 13 October, I woke up with a deep certainty that God was calling me to officership. I remember saying, “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to do this, I’m in the middle of a contract, I’m too old, and I’m already doing ministry at work.” But God didn’t let go. After talking with my husband, who was fully supportive, I applied and was accepted for training in the NZFT [territory]. In 2024, I submitted an expression of interest for Australia so our family could be together, as my husband was already living here.

Where are you serving at the moment - and what’s your role?

I’m at North Brisbane corps and learning from Corps Officers Majors Scott and Sharon Allen as part of the corps officer team. It’s a lot of observation and learning for me. It’s a big corps. I am involved wherever I am needed. North Brisbane is a pilot corps for The Salvation Army’s intercultural STAGES project so, that’s something I am passionate about and really want to get fully involved in.

Wati was appointed as the first Financial Services Ombudsperson for Fiji.

Any standout moments that are shaping you as a future officer?

It has been realising how much of this season is about what God is doing in me. After 20 years of constant professional and corps involvement, 2026 has become a God‑given space of physical rest and deeper spiritual formation. I’m learning to let God reshape me from the inside out. I’m also being stretched and encouraged by the leadership I’m observing in Scott and Sharon, which is becoming an important part of my formation as a future officer.

Where are you feeling stretched right now?

The discipline of simply being still. It’s not natural for me. I’m a doer, always leading, organising, or moving something forward. This season is teaching me to slow down, to stop filling every gap with activity, and to focus on growing deeper spiritually rather than constantly producing or achieving.

What strengths do you lean on most?

I’m a big‑picture leader with spiritual gifts in leadership and administration, shaped by years in the legal profession and my work as the Financial Services Ombudsperson at the central bank. Working with people, navigating complexity, and championing social justice are core strengths. I’ve also had significant experience in human rights training, financial inclusion, and partnering with People Living with HIV (PLHIV) organisations and women’s groups, work that has deepened my commitment to development, dignity, and community empowerment.

Wati (third from the left) has had significant experience in human rights training, financial inclusion, and partnering with People Living with HIV (PLHIV) organisations and women’s groups, work that has deepened her commitment to development, dignity, and community empowerment.

Which focus areas of officership really fire you up – and why?

I love working with teams – empowering, equipping, and building up local leaders so they can strengthen their own corps and programs, rather than stepping in to do the work for them. That’s what healthy officership should look like wherever we’re appointed: developing others, not centralising everything in ourselves. While I naturally gravitate toward areas in my wheelhouse, I’m committed to learning new things and growing so I can better support the people and communities I serve.

If you could design your dream appointment today, what would it look like – and who would you most hope to impact?

It would sit at the intersection of Mission Support and Faith Communities Development, where strategy, spiritual formation, and organisational strengthening meet. I’m energised by roles that help the army grow – not just numerically, but in depth, health, and missional clarity.

When taking some time out, Wati loves crafting, including macrame and getting stuck into puzzles. The cadet likes to do things with her hands, especially when she has a lot on her mind and needs to think through things.

My ideal appointment would allow me to work alongside corps, centres, and leaders to build capacity, strengthen governance, and shape sustainable systems that help communities flourish. At its heart, this dream role would be about impacting people who carry responsibility for others – officers, local leaders, volunteers, young leaders and emerging voices who want to see their communities thrive but may feel stretched, under‑resourced or unsure how to move forward. Ultimately, the people I most hope to impact are those who are shaping the future of The Salvation Army – helping them create environments where justice, compassion, and faith can take root and grow.

And just for fun ... when you switch off, what do you love doing?

I love crafting. I like puzzles. I like to do things with my hands, especially when I have a lot on my mind and need to think through things. I will do macrame or make jewellery, but I don’t really switch off; I use these activities to aid my thought process when I have things or ideas to think through.