by communal differences or communal agendas that if a person stands up and talks, we say, he is from Kadavu that’s why he is saying that since the leader of that particular Party is from Kadavu.
“Or, that he is a Hindu, or she is a Muslim, or he is a Pentecostal Church or he is a Methodist.
“We as a nation need to break out of that in order to become progressive, in order for us to have valid criticism, in order for us to have constructive dialogue in our country, to be able to do what’s best for our country.”

Importance
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the reason he was highlighting this was because he felt it’s relevant for leadership.
“If as a leader, you would make decisions in your organisation, and you are yourself are creating going to be hamstrung on whether it’s communal issues, whether it’s personality issues, your organisation will also suffer,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we have seen this also. I have worked in the private sector as well.
“They also at the end of the day decide to set conditions because they felt they have too many of this group or that group.
“Meritocracy has a lot of validity, meritocracy is something that we have been lacking in Fiji, most definitely we have been lacking meritocracy in the civil service for a very long period of time.
“There must be a fundamental level of honesty in the manner in not just as you portray yourself but also the manner in which what you do.”
Before arriving at the CPA Congress, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was with Prime Minister Rear Admiral (retired) Voreqe Bainimarama as he left for Australia.
While with him, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said they discussed about the level of lies that is currently being spread and how people “are trying to get attention by fundamentally lying through the process.”
“Whether it’s state, whether it’s about land, whether its religion, whether it’s about accountability, whether it’s about transparency, whether it’s about the ability to exercise your rights either as an indigenous person or a non-indigenous person.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said being a good leader means having a fundamental level of honesty was a must.
“You must at the same time to be a good leader, we believe, you must have a vision, you must have a goal, otherwise your role as a leader will be very, very short-lived,” he said.
“I can speak from an elections perspective- if for example people are only telling truth or lies, whatever the case may be, to simply win office, the next time they come around trying to gain the votes of the voters for the next office, they will need to spin something else.
“So the fact of the matter is to be a good leader, to be a true leader and to be a leader that is recognised and indeed one would hope, to be a leader who is remembered, you must have a long term vision, you must have a long term goal.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said when accountants were preparing budgets, they were not looking at weekly plan, rather it must be a projected plan, looking to the future.
Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

JYOTI PRATIBHA
DENARAU
The Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has stressed that when one holds a public office, there must be integrity within the office held.
He was speaking from the perspective as a public officer and  also from the perspective of somebody who has been in the private sector and joined the public service.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was addressing over 400 delegates attending the 2014 CPA Congress at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island in Nadi.
While challenging the CPA Australia Fiji branch members, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said it was a need in Fiji for professionals to speak out about policies of political parties.
“It is critical to allow for constructive criticism,” he said.
“As I said last year, it is unfortunate in Fiji that nobody stands in front of media and is able to say I, as a financial person, an economist, an independent give my view on this particular Party’s manifesto.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had issued a similar challenge last year and he said in the year that has passed, no one had come forward and taken the public space to say that.
“Because, unfortunately, we as a nation are so hamstrung by personality,” he said.
“We as a nation are so hamstrung by communal differences or communal agendas that if a person stands up and talks, we say, he is from Kadavu that’s why he is saying that since the leader of that particular Party is from Kadavu.
“Or, that he is a Hindu, or she is a Muslim, or he is a Pentecostal Church or he is a Methodist.
“We as a nation need to break out of that in order to become progressive, in order for us to have valid criticism, in order for us to have constructive dialogue in our country, to be able to do what’s best for our country.”

Importance
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the reason he was highlighting this was because he felt it’s relevant for leadership.
“If as a leader, you would make decisions in your organisation, and you are yourself are creating going to be hamstrung on whether it’s communal issues, whether it’s personality issues, your organisation will also suffer,” he said.
“Unfortunately, we have seen this also. I have worked in the private sector as well.
“They also at the end of the day decide to set conditions because they felt they have too many of this group or that group.
“Meritocracy has a lot of validity, meritocracy is something that we have been lacking in Fiji, most definitely we have been lacking meritocracy in the civil service for a very long period of time.
“There must be a fundamental level of honesty in the manner in not just as you portray yourself but also the manner in which what you do.”

Rumours being spread
Before arriving at the CPA Congress, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was with Prime Minister Rear Admiral (retired) Voreqe Bainimarama as he left for Australia.
While with him, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said they discussed about the level of lies that is currently being spread and how people “are trying to get attention by fundamentally lying through the process.”
“Whether it’s state, whether it’s about land, whether its religion, whether it’s about accountability, whether it’s about transparency, whether it’s about the ability to exercise your rights either as an indigenous person or a non-indigenous person.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said being a good leader means having a fundamental level of honesty was a must.
“You must at the same time to be a good leader, we believe, you must have a vision, you must have a goal, otherwise your role as a leader will be very, very short-lived,” he said.
“I can speak from an elections perspective- if for example people are only telling truth or lies, whatever the case may be, to simply win office, the next time they come around trying to gain the votes of the voters for the next office, they will need to spin something else.
“So the fact of the matter is to be a good leader, to be a true leader and to be a leader that is recognised and indeed one would hope, to be a leader who is remembered, you must have a long term vision, you must have a long term goal.”
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said when accountants were preparing budgets, they were not looking at weekly plan, rather it must be a projected plan, looking to the future.
Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

RANOBA BAOA
suva
Specialist training on chemistry on the Fiji Sun press at Walu Bay from a New Zealand newspaper expert, Webco managing director Brendon Whitley.
Mr Whitley – who returned to New Zealand yesterday – was a prominent daily newspaper production manager before he founded Tauranga-based Webco.
He has built it into an industry leading press company serving New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands – including the Fiji Sun – and Southeast Asia.
Feedback: ranoabab@fijisun.com.fj

RACHNA LAL
suva

Frezco Beverages Limited has undertaken a multi-million-dollar investment to moving towards “bottling at source” for its Aqua Pacific Natural Artesian Mineral Water.
The locally-owned company, after spending 10 years in the industry, is constructing a new state-of-the-art bottling water plant facility on the hills of Mulomulo, Nadi.
The founder/CEO, Altaaf Jamal, said to date, they have already invested $5 million into this project with further investment plans in the near future.
“Over the next three years, we plan to invest a total of $20 million as we introduce our new product line and extension of our plant and building,” he said.
Mr Jamal said this investment will enable them to fulfil their local and export growth.
This investment is being mainly carried out through local funding.
Mr Jamal said HFC Bank had been very supportive in the past few years in meeting their proposal for the expansion, even before becoming a fully-fledged commercial bank.
“HFC has been very supportive in the last few years in meeting our proposal for expansion and we have our export proceeds that has enabled us to use our cash flow as well,” he said.
The company’s current product line capacity is 3000 bottles per hour.
The new fully-automated line, Mr Jamal said, from blowing, filling and packaging into multi-packs 15,000 bottles per hour has given them five-fold increase in capacity.
“Locating our bottling plant at source has also given us much needed space for holding large stock, container yard and room for future expansion,” he said.

Growth rate
Mr Jamal revealed the company’s exports have grown by 100 per cent in the past 12 months.
“For this year, we are expecting another 100 per cent growth in export as the brand is becoming more well-known in the markets where we are exporting,” he said.
The Aqua Pacific brand is growing rapidly with exports to around nine countries.
These include China, Taiwan, Japan, United States, Kuwait, Dubai, Australia and other Pacific Islands markets.

Reason for investment
Mr Jamal said the reason for their investment was because they believe in their product, brand and the global demand for quality premium artesian water.
“We also have confidence in the Fijian Economy and the Bainimarama-led government with its current policies that has given exporters like us the platform to explore business opportunities here,” he said.
“Fiji is the hub to global market and if we can be innovative with our ideas and have a dream to move forward the time is right now,” he said.

New products
Frezco Beverages Limited, the bottling arm of Aqua Pacific Natural Artesian Mineral Water, also has few private Label water up its sleeve which will be bottled from the new facility.
Mr Jamal said this is with new technology and formula the company will bottle “Energy Water” using Caffeine & Vitamin for a group out of Australia.
“The company under its new brand will also launch ‘Health & Beauty’ Water using an Anti-Aging active ingredient for export market mainly Japan, China & United States,” he said.
The company also bottles and markets Fijian & Bula brand Noni Products, Carbonated Drinks “POPS” and XTC – Energy Drinks.
“We are currently building a worldwide network of engaged, determined and smart team of people who are coming together with the vision I have for taking our Fijian Made Products worldwide,” Mr Jamal said.
Feedback: rachnal@fijisun.com.fj
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Additions made to Wakaya Perfection Collection >P15

RACHNA LAL
suva
Fijian Holdings Limited Group, as major shareholder of Fiji Television Limited, is looking to get more involved with the management of its media arm.
Fijian Holdings Group chief executive, Nouzab Fareed, said this is needed and necessary in order to turnaround Fiji TV’s financial performance.
He confirmed it will involve further restructuring.
“Shareholders are not happy about the performance. We will really get involved with the management in order to turnaround the company,” he said.
Mr Fareed’s comments follow the announcement of Fiji TV’s financial performance for the year ended June 30, 2014 where the Fiji TV Group posted a net loss after tax of $1.5 million.

Decrease
This was a decrease of almost 141 per cent whereby the group had recorded a $3.6 million profit for the previous financial year.
“For Fiji, we are planning to have some restructure in terms of the way we do business,” Mr Fareed said.
“It will also be an opportunity to expand SKY Pacific again. Within another 12 to 18 months, if the market is ok, we plan to bring another 25 channels.
“Of course it is a win-win deal – our cost will go up but there will be something for everyone. So if we have up to 50 channels, it will mean people have more choices.”
Mr Fareed said they remain confident that going forward, they will see a turnaround in the company within the first six months of the new financial year.
He further said Government too is planning to coming up with their digital platform which will also improve the quality of broadcast.

PNG outlook
Meanwhile, Mr Fareed said Fiji TV’s Papua New Guinea subsidiary, Media Niugini Limited, was performing well.
But, he said they expect competition in PNG to start from September.
“All this while PNG only had two TV companies. But from September, there will be another one and from November there will be another one making it four altogether,” he said.
“So it will be a big challenge for our PNG operations.”
Feedback: rachnalp@fijisun.com.fj

JYOTI PRATIBHAL
NADI

Skyward Industries MD/CEO, Kevin Rotsaert.

More
Customers want more indeed. From the present 50 km2 (12,000 acres) mapping area, the company is now requested areas beyond 400 km2 (99,000 acres).
Although the operations allow already for such coverage, the addition of much larger aircraft will boosts its delivery speed.

Crop health monitoring
But it does not stop with mapping. The company has developed its crop health monitoring and analysis capabilities and tests show very promising results already.
Mr Rotsaert also notes to inform the public of this upcoming technology.
“We are an aviation company and industry. People must remember that these machines fly and must be treated with the same respect as other aircraft,” he said.
He notes this industry is very serious and in order to keep people safe, his company and staff spend many months training and preparing.
“It is inevitable that such machines on a smaller recreational scale will be brought in, but we remind the public to follow local laws and be cleared with CAAF to ensure everyone’s safety,” he said.

Diversification
Thanks to the company’s management expertise and experience in aviation and engineering, much larger machines are under development and will be joining the fleet soon.
Following up on customer’s request, the company is developing aircraft capable of several hours of flight for surveillance, search and rescue, and much more.
To preserve quality and efficiency, the company needs a certain level of redundancy and is therefore not limiting development and production to single units.
Interestingly, with the satisfaction of its clients comes diversification of the company’s services.
For example, some clients have requested more conventional aviation support and development services.

Factory development
With 3D mapping and surveying tools, the company is developing a remote runway for a large factory development.
Together with these developments, the engineering team of the company is setting up a remote private based weather station system that enables the monitoring and analysis of wind, rain and soil moisture contents data.
This information is then used for dispatching the UAVs when necessary, irrigation of the grass runway and help contractors plan their work in advance.
The same goes for other clients that require the regular UAV services of the company.
Remote private weather stations are installed at customers’ sites allowing the operations to determine the flight conditions and make appropriate decisions, hence saving money to the clients and operating under safer conditions.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj

NANDNI VANDHANA
NADI
The 2014 Certified Public Accountants (CPA) congress held in Nadi was an opportunity for accountants to broaden their horizons on leadership in their various organisations.
This is according to Jeff Hughes, Chief Operating Officer, Member services, CPA Australia who was present at the meeting which ended yesterday.
“It is to bring people outside the profession to add significant value to the way professional accountants think,” said Mr Hughes.
He said there are 14 congresses in the world with about 10 000 people attending them.
“Accountants are the strategic business advisors, and we encourage accountants whether they are the more junior or the senior, to think outside their finance department,” he said.
“We want them to become a partner with the business and understand the business as a whole.
“Challenges vary from business to business, they are certainly seen as leaders in the various organisations that they work for.
“Unless they have the context of what is going on, they are not going to understand what the numbers actually mean.”
He said there is a need to take away standard thought of accountants as sort of compliance and standards and actually see them as strategic business advisors they actually ar.
“They need to be innovative, with the engineers and the marketing people, and other aspects of the business because that’s what sustains organisations”
“As professionals, we need to add value to the business and shareholders, other staff and leaders”
He said the CPA is looking at offering more services to its Fiji counterparts which will see universities and organisations being a part of the developments.
Feedback: nandni.vandhna@fijisun.com.fj

SHEIK DEAN
NADI

Participants of the CPA Congress 2014 yesterday.

NANDNI VANDHANA
NADI
Fiji Airways is a family based airline and this is what its team will work towards in the coming years to ensure sustainable growth and success through a Boutique Airline Model.
This is according to Fiji Airways chief executive and managing director Stephen Pichler who spoke at the 2014 CPA Congress in Nadi yesterday.
“Having sustainable growth for long term success is ideal for our airline,” said Mr Pichler
He said there is a need for airlines to have less unit cost and more revenue would result in a world class boutique airline.
“This is not a three weeks marketing campaign but will take a few years and a continuous process,” he said.
Fiji Airways is working on this strategy and has been more visible in the country through the media than previous years.
“People should understand why the airline does things, one gets higher acceptance when they know what we do,” he said.
“We don’t have to be the perfect multibillion dollar company; we are a family oriented company and we will work on that”
He said it is not about competing with other airlines but working on the strong points of one’s own airline.
“We need to focus on the part which money can buy and what money can’t buy which is our cabin crew and staff”
‘From a customer perspective, we try to customise and treat the individual and not be process driven”
He stressed big airlines have a certain routine but Fiji Airways would focus on people for success.
He told the accountants that gathered for the two day congress that every organisation needs a good leader who inspires the team.
“If your everyday actions inspire the team, then you are a leader,” he said.
“We have teams that run the airline; the teams have delegated authority to make decisions, the idea of a team is superior to an individual,” he said.
“We have to build an inspirational Fiji as a consumer brand in the market”
“The important thing for an airline is talking and listening to its customers, for the team to have key meeting in the day to talk to each other,” he said.
He said the airline answers to the public and as such will continuously work hard to serve the people.
Feedback: nandni.vandhna@fijisun.com.fj

SHEIK DEAN
NADI

Fiji business is a tipping point where great things are about to happen. However to maintain this growth change is inevitable.
Executive Wisdom Consulting Group managing consultant Ric Willmot said leaders in an organisation should practice thinking to become more successful.
He was one of the speakers at the CPA Congress 2014 at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island in Nadi.
Mr Willmot said to maintain Fiji business at tipping point and sustain growth, leaders need to have critical thinking and competency.
“One of the things you need to develop as an objective and a mission for an organisation is competent capacity,’’ he said.
He said leaders and managers need to have competency to be able to deliver upon a strategy.
“That requires a certain level of thinking that allows you to look at business operations and business processes to see the opportunities that competition cannot with regards to business thinking.
“We use critical thinking in order to think about how we run our businesses.

“We base our decisions upon evidence and logic, and we need critical thinking to be able to evaluate our options.
“Leaders and managers need to be humble and think of their frontline staff that can fit into the business strategy of an organisation.
He said there was a need to be more understanding of relationships to bring greater meaning to interpersonal connections.
“We should not treat people as another part of the manufacturing plant, understand the value they bring. The more you do that, the greater asset they become to your business,” he said.
Furthermore he said leaders in Fiji have potential to lead organisations to greater heights without acquiring the services of offshore expatriates.
“You do not need to have expatriates but developing leaders through expatriate consultants for trainings will help them realise their potential.”

About Ric Willmot
Ric Willmot is “The Strategist” assisting organisations to improve performance, profits and productivity. Most businesses are en route to destinations they don’t seek because of a strategy they haven’t set is taking them there.
Mr Willmot is seen as the thought leader for strategic business improvement. His intent is not just to improve your business, but to build firms which create wisdom and wealth.
He travels Australia, Asia, the United States and parts of Europe as the go-to person for CEOs, senior executives and professional service people practicing in law, accounting, financial services, consulting, recruitment, business coaching and alike.
Feedback: sheik.dean@fijisun.com.fj

MARAIA VULA
SUVA

Gamezone Fiji Limited has opened a new 9D cinema in Nausori on yesterday.
The 12-seat cinema is situated at the Kushal Holdings building along Ross Street in Nausori.
Gamezone managing director, Pritesh Prakash said it’s the first 9D in Nausori town to target anybody wanting to watch a 10 to 15 video clip.
“Since the building is centrally located, we also opened a gaming arcade centre to cater for kids and also rides such as bumper cars,” Mr Prakash.
The total investment made to the whole setup of the business was $150,000.
“I opened this new cinema because of the new development currently going on with the new market and the new bus stand.
“We might also be opening new branches soon especially in the Nakasi area where some developments are taking place and later on in other towns as well.
“We faced a lot of challenges when we were importing the machines over from China and getting the wiring done,” he said.
New employment was created, currently five staff are employed and he is still looking for more people to employ.
The cinema will be open from Monday to Saturday from 8am to 8pm and Sunday from 10am to 6pm.
Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj

MARAIA VULA
SUVA

Turtle Airways is looking to expand its fleet in the near future.
This was confirmed by the company’s accountable manager, Richard Evanson Junior, in an interview recently.
Turtle Airways has been a pioneer from its Nadi base. It has been operating it’s seaplane transfer service for more than 30 years, with a clean safety record.
Richard Evanson founded the company in 1979, mainly to transport crew and material for the 1980 film, the “Blue Lagoon”, starring Brooke Shields.
The company now services the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands with resort transfers, scenic flights whilst also offering charter flights to other parts of Fiji.
Mr Evanson (Jr) said they have expanded and have started doing resort transfers all over Fiji.
The goal of the company is to offer more services and to grow its fleet.
“We currently have two aircraft, we have another one that’s due to come in February next year, another aircraft to complete a rebuild by November.
“The aircraft that’s being rebuilt is costing us about $500,000 and close to $400,000 was invested to the new one from overseas.
“As we grow our fleet obviously we have to hire more pilots.”
He highlighted by February next year they should have four seaplanes flying over the designated areas by the company.
“Our business model is basically providing resort transfers, day trips there’s not many people/no one currently offering daytrips to the Yasawa Islands.
“One of our main unique selling point is the fact we have so many flights going to the Yasawa Islands and the Mamanuca Islands which means people coming in are able to have convenient connection transfers.
“We have invested a lot back into our facilities like the private waiting lounge for our VIP clients that was recently opened.”
Earlier this month, it awarded Nemani Rabonu the ‘Employee of the Half Year’, from January 1 to June 30.
The company has come up with this award, to acknowledge staff who have carried out their work to a high standard consistently.
Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj

VARANISESE NASILASILA
nadi

Ending the Tanoa Salon Culinaire on an impressive result, Fiji Tanoa Hotel Group will now look forward to the upcoming national final.
Fiji Chefs Association president, Shailesh Naidu said that the performance from the participants has greatly improved.
“Performance from the participants for the past two days has been really amazing; it is good to see the initiative from the hotel.
“I can see the vast improvements from the hotel compared to the past two years, overall they have stepped up,” he said.

Mr Naidu said that from the result that was provided by the chefs looked ready for national competition.
“Looking and tasting some of the dishes that were provided to us, I can tell that it will give a good run during the competition,” he said.
Tanoa Hotels area general manager, Matthew Gillespie was proud of the performance from the team members.
“The competition helps our chef’s out greatly, every year they really improve in terms of the food presentation,”he said.
Meanwhile participant Eroni Tau was grateful to the hotel group for promoting the initative.
varanisese.nasilasila@fijisun.com.fj

VARANISESE NASILASILA
NAdi

The Fiji National University launched its first International Food Festival at its Namaka Campus in Nadi on Saturday night.
The event is part of the university’s ongoing initiative to provide strong and meaningful interface between education/training and the real world of commerce.
FNU anticipates holding this event every year for the next eight years with a unique theme each year focusing on important aspects of our culture.
The theme for this year’s food festival is ‘Oceans and Rivers’.
The exhibitors/participants will therefore prepare and display a variety of meals originating from oceans and rivers.
Fiji National University vice chancellor, Dr Ganesh Chand, said the event will enable Fiji to be exposed.
“This event will enable Fiji to get exposure especially in food that the local people of Fiji can provide,” he said.

Promoting local talent
Fiji Airways managing director/chief executive and the newly-appointed chairman of Tourism Fiji, Stefan Pichler, said the idea of hosting such event will really promote local talents and supplies.
Mr Pichler officiated the event as the chief guest.
As the head of our national airline, Mr Pichler said they want to provide something different for guests/passengers.
“We hear Fiji has lovely sandy beaches but nothing on the taste of the local food. This is why I think the event is important to put a mark on a map,” he said.
Mr Pichler said this could only be made possible with the assistance of chefs.
Feedback: varanisese.nasilasila@fijisun.com.fj

RACHNA LAL
SUVA

Fiji Sun business journalists, Ranoba Baoa and Maraia Vula with Editorial manager, Soko Vakacegu.

RACHNA LAL
Suva
Sugar continued to be one of the drivers for our increased exports in the month of June, a report from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics has highlighted.
The bureau indicated provisional data put the total value of goods exported in June at $201.5 million, an increase of $60.5 million (42.9 per cent) compared to June 2013.
The ‘Prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits & tobacco’ category noted a 102.1 per cent increase when compared to June 2013, from $29.1 million to $58.5 million, attributed mainly to increased sugar exports.
As a result of this increased sugar exports, our exports into the United Kingdom went up to $34.4 million, an increase of 17,100 per cent.
However, exports into the USA went down by $1.9 million because of decreased fresh fish exports.
Also, our exports into Australia decreased by $14.6 million (58.6 per cent) because of decreased gold exports.
Vanuatu was also down by $1.1 million (28.2 per cent) as a result of decreased exports of other biscuits except sweet biscuits.

Imports and trade deficit
Meanwhile, the value of goods imported in June was $491.9 million, an increase of $146.9 million (42.6 per cent) compared to the previous corresponding month.
The exports less imports figures have led to a trade deficit of $290.4 million, compared to $164 million a month earlier which is also the highest for this year so far.
Feedback: rachnal@fijisun.com.fj

Craig Powell

Career background
Mr Powell began his career in hospitality with the Regent Hotel in Auckland in 1989 before he returned to Fiji where he joined Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa as a management cadet in 1991.
Following a year spent learning about all operational aspects of the resort, Mr Powell was selected to attend Ecole Les Roches, one of the top four hotel management schools worldwide.
He graduated from Les Roches in 1994.
On his return, he joined the Food and Beverage team in a middle management role before taking up his first international posting with Shangri-La’s Golden Flower Resort in Xian, China.
Following his stint in China, he worked for RF hotels in the United Kingdom and later Intercontinental Hotels and Resorts in Fiji.
He re-joined the Shangri-La group in 2002 as Hotel Manager at the Mocambo Hotel (managed by Shangri-La).
In 2006, he was transferred as Resident Manager to Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort in Singapore before he moved to Traders Hotel Shenyang in China in the same position.
He was then appointed general manager of Traders Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar before being posted to Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

A full circle
In his own words Mr Powell said he has come full circle now and credits his grandmother, for his career choice.
“My family also played a pivotal role in preparing me for the hospitality industry as they entertained frequently during my childhood,” Mr Powell said.
Speaking about his return home to Fiji, Mr Powell says it is always hard to say goodbye to friends made while working abroad but the move back home has been timely on a personal and professional level.
“My parents are semi-retired and now live in Savusavu and my wife and I look forward to spending time with them and our extended family,” he said.
“Coming back to head the team here is an honour and a challenge I look forward to.
“I began my career with the company here on Yanuca and it means a lot to me to be given this tremendous opportunity by the company to work at home and in a place I have been familiar with since my childhood.”
SHANGRI-LA’S FIJIAN RESORT & SPA

Serious deterioration of the beams under the Savusavu Jetty, which have now been temporarily repaired before permanent repairs are carried out.

Opportunities
Mr Clifford said the scale of the work means there is the opportunity for many people to learn new skills.
“Because jetties haven’t been built in Fiji for years, local expertise has waned,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for people to get trained, up-skill themselves, and take much of this work forward from a local perspective in the future so Fiji doesn’t have to look offshore so much in the years to come.
“The whole idea is to upskill people alongside the work that is being done over the next few years so that, instead of Fiji having to bring so many experts in, people here can become the experts.”
Extensive maintenance programmes are put in place for each jetty that is repaired or rebuilt so it can stay in good condition throughout its expected 50-to-100-year lifespan.
Mwh global

They bring with them a wealth of knowledge, and will be integral to implementing plans for the resort

Denny Akira Tanaka (left) and Nicolas de Visch.

Experience
“They bring with them a wealth of knowledge, and will be integral to implementing the exciting plans we have in pipeline for the next few years.”
Chef de Visch brings a fresh global perspective with 25 years kitchen experience throughout Europe, Middle East and Asia, with a Michelin star restaurant background.
He opened the 7-star luxury hotel Burj Al Arab at only 25.
Mr Tanaka, who studied in Cornell University in the United States of America, also joins InterContinental Fiji with 15 years of invaluable experience in restaurant operations in Asia and the Middle East.
“Nicolas and I are excited to work with such a fabulous team that has already achieved so much and collaborating to elevate five star dining experiences in Fiji,” Mr Tanaka said.
“We’re looking forward to working hands-on with the team to continue delivering authentic and enriching Fijian experiences to guests and showcase the talent this resort has.”

Objective
“My objective is to deliver not just exceptional but holistic dining experiences – from the moment our guests enter the restaurant till the moment they leave.”
About their first impressions of Fiji, Mr de Visch said: “Fiji is a place where its people have such beautiful and warm personalities; I feel so welcome and very much at home.”
INTERCONTINENTAL FIJI GOLF
RESORT & SPA

Financial reporting veteran: here to help build confidence

In Suva from left IMF Senior Communications Officer, Dezhi Ma, Thomson Reuters Foundation trainers, Mathieu Robbins and Lincoln Feast. Photo: RACHNA LAL