An accountant by profession with almost three decades of experience, Antonia Watson is now the chief executive officer for the Pacific and New Zealand ANZ’s Banking Group.
Ms Watson said a photo, which she carries around with her, was an inspiration to her success.
It was a photo of her mother, the only woman, being admitted to the bar as a solicitor in the 1960’s.
“My parents have been staunch supporters of my sisters and I in whatever we pursued,” Ms Watson said.
Before joining ANZ, she began her career in the audit team at KPMG where she got her Chartered Accounting qualification.
Having enough money to travel she backpacked around Europe for five months and ended up in London broke and looking for a job.
She worked at Morgan Stanley, an investment banking firm for 13 years.
She landed her first leadership role as the head of finance when she moved to Sydney, then became head of infrastructure-similar to chief operating officer and human resources, property, corporate services, IT, operations.
Six years later she was asked to set up Morgan Stanley operations at Budapest in Hungary.
She attended Saint Cuthbert’s College, a school in the leafy suburbs of central Auckland, in New Zealand.
She has a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from Otago University.
How many places have you visited around Fiji? (Also include how many times you have visited Fiji?)
I have visited Fiji 4 times – twice on holiday and Suva twice for work. I first came in 1976 and stayed on the coast near Lautoka.
Where is the one place in Fiji you would take visitors to and why?
I’d take visitors to the adults’ only area at the Sofitel. Loved it there at Easter
What is your favorite place for coffee/ pie?
Don’t drink coffee. Shouldn’t eat pie Seventh Heaven Fiji.
What do you do in your spare time?
Walking/hiking, cooking, reading, wine tasting, travel.
What is one place in Fiji that remains on your bucket list, and why?
Seventh Heaven Fiji- above water Bure on an outer island.
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