27th Australia Fiji Business Forum

The Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small
and Medium Enterprises and Communications - Hon. Manoa Kamikamica is a Proud
Fijian with over 33 years of experience in the field of Finance, Aviation, Banking and
Manufacturing at a senior executive level.
A Chartered Accountant by Profession Hon. Kamikamica is the first indigenous
Fijian to become a member of the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants and
is presently a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, New
Zealand and Fiji.
Hon. Kamikamica was the CFO and General Manager for the Lyndhurst Group of
Companies and has served senior roles with ANZ in Tonga, Fiji and Papua New
Guinea. Before joining ANZ, Hon. Kamikamica worked for Fiji's National Carrier Fiji
Airways for over 13 years as General Manager Finance and General Manager
Strategic Planning.
Hon. Kamikamica holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW in
Australia.
He is married to Anne Steele and they have one daugther.

Tim Ayres is the Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing in the Albanese Labor Government.

He was elected as a Senator for New South Wales in the 2019 election. During the 46th Parliament, he was Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration and Member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Joint Standing Committee. He led the work of several Select Inquiries including a Senate report on the capability of the Australian Public Service.

He was appointed as Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing in June 2022, after the election of the Labor Government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Before entering Parliament, Tim spent twenty-four years in the trade union movement, representing the interests of workers across a variety of sectors including manufacturing, defence, food processing, aviation and metal industries.

Allison Haworth West is the Executive Chair of Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Islands.  The company is a pioneer in authentic Fiji experiences offering small ship expedition cruises to remote locations currently on board MV Reef Endeavour and from November 2023 on board luxury expedition small ship MS Caledonian Sky.  In addition, the company also operates Day and Dinner experiences, charters and events with a fleet of three sailing vessels plus the company’s own Tivua Private Island.

Allison is the President of the Australia Fiji Business Council, has a degree in Business Management from the University of Technology Sydney, sits on the board of trustees of the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation, is a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors and is an Ambassador for CMH Heliskiing in Canada. 

Anthony is an Entrepreneur and Lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience developing and managing customer contact centres in multi-site locations around the world. Passionate about driving development opportunities with a keen interest in technology as an enabler for both customer experience and business productivity.

He is a hands-on leader who enjoys building teams, involved personally with the everyday client partners, and working with stakeholders to deliver projects that drive shared value.

Anthony has played a key role in the establishment and growth of several companies and is currently actively involved in Centrecom Fiji, working with the leadership teams to build growth, strategy, nurture relationships and drive continuous improvement.

CentreCom: A premium Contact Centre and Business Process Outsourcing service, with operations in Fiji and Malta. Supporting customer service and back-office accounting services for aviation, e-commerce, government and other online business clientele.

Shavindra is part of the Executive Leadership Team of the Fiji Revenue & Customs Service (FRCS). He carries out a very dynamic role deputizing the Chief Executive Officer and his tasks range from staff management, strategic planning, provision of advisory and overseeing operations. Shavindra also leads the Corporate Division which incorporates policy analysis and advice, legal services, public relations and marketing, international relations, strategic planning and monitoring, technical interpretation, objections review, and financial intelligence.
He has more than 13 years of experience in fiscal policy, international trade, and investment. His role also includes leading the national budget work as a key advisor to the government.
His academic background is in Economics with a Bachelor’s and a Master’s from the University of the South Pacific, Fiji.

Greg Ingram, Managing Director of FNE Communications, and is a trailblazer in the telecommunications industry.
He started his professional career at Telecom Australia (now Telstra Ltd) as a Network Trainee in Sydney, obtaining skills and an accredited education. His determination and commitment saw him rise quickly to a Construction Manager position.
His next venture was General Manager in the private sector, completing large-scale telecommunications projects for various carriers.
With a vision for progress, Greg took a leap and founded FNE Communications - Fibre Network Engineering on the Gold Coast, Queensland in 2009.
As a delivery partner to Telstra, FNE began undertaking major projects throughout Australia.
Recognizing untapped potential, Greg ventured into the international arena, setting his sights on Fiji. There, FNE’s arrival brought new technology, expertise, and elevated standards to the nation's telecommunications landscape.
Greg Ingram's passion propels us towards a future where telecommunications connect the world like never before.

Mr. Hasmukh Patel joined the Fiji Electricity Authority (FEA) in 1976 as a Graduate Electrical Engineer.

He has a First Class Bachelor of Technology Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India and a Graduate Certificate in Management from Monash University in Australia.

Mr. Patel is a Chartered Electrical Engineer and a retired Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, UK and Australia to name a few.

After serving in numerous positions at FEA, he was appointed as the Regional Manager Western & Northern in 1995 and thereafter was appointed General Manager Network from December 1999 to December 2005.

He was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer & Director of FEA, now EFL in August 2008, and ever since has been in this role till date.

Under his leadership, FEA was corporatized into Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) in 2018. 

Mr. Patel serves on the Board of:

- Fiji Ports Terminal Limited as its Chairperson since 2013

- Fiji Airports as the Chairperson since 2022

- Pacific Power Association (PPA) and Chairperson since 2018

Rikesh is a change maker and driver of innovation. He has a background in finance, business management and technology, and has been involved in electric vehicles since 2006. In 2010 Rikesh managed and launched wireless charging for electric vehicles at the Seoul G20 summit. It was named one of the top 50 inventions by Time Magazine and recognised as a top 10 emerging technology by the World Economic Forum.

Shally is the Regional Chief Executive Officer for Digicel Pacific, where she has oversight for five thriving Pacific markets: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Nauru. Leading a dedicated team of approximately 900 professionals, Shally's primary focus is to deliver unparalleled telecommunications experiences to customers across the Pacific region. Her leadership is firmly anchored in three key pillars: customer centricity, operational simplicity, and driving digital transformation.

With a distinguished professional background, Shally is an accredited CPA, and her career has predominantly thrived within the dynamic Telecommunications industry. She has held pivotal roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Pacific Hub, and Finance Controller in the Fiji business, exhibiting her expertise and exceptional financial acumen.

Shally's remarkable achievements have not gone unnoticed. In the prestigious March 2022 edition of Capacity Magazine, she was celebrated as one of the "20 Women to Watch," a well-deserved recognition highlighting her significant contributions to the wholesale telecommunications and Tech sector. Additionally, her excellence and leadership have been recently acknowledged with Outstanding Women of the Year 2022 by Fiji’s Women in Business.  Beyond her professional prowess, Shally is deeply passionate about empowering her staff and fostering a culture of customer-centricity within the organization. Her commitment extends to making a positive impact on communities, actively contributing to their growth and prosperity.

Outside the confines of her professional duties, Shally finds joy in traveling with her son, cherishing quality moments of exploration and discovery. Her dedication to both her career and personal life exemplifies a remarkable balance, underscoring the essence of a true leader and role model.

Stuart is an internationally experienced executive, lecturer and Chartered Accountant who has a depth of experience across a wide range of public sector and commercial areas including finance, procurement, risk management and strategy.

He has worked as an executive across funds management, financial management and financial accounting in Australia, the US and UK. Prior to co-founding ESI Stuart worked as a Chartered Accountant with leading global firms including Ernst & Young, Prudential (UK) Wilhelmsen Investments and Brookfield Asset Management.

Stuart holds a Master of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Economics) from the University of Queensland.

Founder & CEO of ZONAH UNITED, Naheeda is the leader and also the youngest female entrepreneur in Agriculture, Food Manufacturing & Exports in Fiji and has been instrumental in transforming ZONAH UNITED into a support powerhouse that empowers more than 50 rural marginalized women with employment pathways across Fiji.

With 10 years of experience in the industry, Naheeda has a proven track record of driving growth and innovating premium Fijian Made products for Export. Under her leadership, ZONAH UNITED has continued to expand its offerings, including launching  their brand – ZORGANIC’s new Premium Health Supplement product range, that will pave its way across the globe promoting our FIJI.

In addition to her role at ZONAH UNITED, Naheeda is a strong advocate for youth empowerment and auxiliary the underprivileged women through her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion by supporting rural women who are single mothers, victims, illiterate & youths from broken families through engendering employment pathways precisely for them in Agriculture.

Navi’s expertise is in Rural and Development Economics and Business Development, and has assisted in the establishment of a number of corporate entities in Fiji and the region. Currently serving as the Fiji Country Manager for PHAMA Plus, a project funded by Australia (DFAT) and New Zealand (MFAT), Navi's role focuses on developing market access pathways and fostering agri exports. He previously served as Fiji's Trade Commissioner to Melanesia, playing a crucial role in facilitating trade and investment relations with PNG, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia, and Timor Leste. He has also held key senior positions in the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and the Reserve Bank of Fiji.

Outside of his professional engagements, he and his wife, coordinates a church under the Loveworld International umbrella called Christ Embassy located in Valelevu, Nasinu. Additionally, he is a semi-commercial root crops and ginger farmer.

Ms. Sharyne Fong is an entrepreneur, founder and Managing Director of her own business advisory and consultancy business, Insight Business Advisory Pte Ltd. After a 30+ career in the financial services industry, she decided in March 2019 to take the leap out and venture into leading her own business.

Sharyne provides strategic and independent insight for organisations and its relevance to the changing business environment. She also provides insight into scaling up businesses. Leadership Fiji is her current client where she’s engaged in providing executive and Chief Executive Officer functions and focussed on scaling it up to align to its strategic goal of establishing a Leadership Academy for Fiji and the Pacific. She is also a Fellow of the Leadership Fiji 2005 program, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fiji Human Resources Institute, and is an approved Business Advisor with Business Link Pacific.

Zane is an experienced start up entrepreneur, having successfully launched companies from R&D through to commercialisation and scale across Asia, the United States, and the Pacific.

Professionally, he is currently the Founder and Executive Director of the Calmer Co. International Limited (ASX:CCO). The Calmer Co is a health and wellness company focussing on natural products to calm nerves, support mind and muscle relaxation and induce sleep. Products are sold under a house of brands which include: Fiji Kava, Taki Mai and Danodan Hempworks in markets including USA, Australia, China, New Zealand and Fiji.

Zane has completed a Bachelor of Mechanical Technology, Post Graduate Diploma in IT, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Queensland University of Technology. He is currently a Vice President of the Australia Fiji Business Council (AFBC) and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).

Agni Deo Singh a trade unionist of over 23 years, and now serves as the Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Industrial Relations since 2022. He rose through the ranks of the Fiji Teachers Union to become its General Secretary and was also elected to the House of Representatives in 2006.
Mr. Singh was born in rural Macuata in Vanua Levu. He started teaching in Labasa in 1973. After further education at the Corpus Christi Teachers College in 1977, he taught in Kadavu, and Viti Levu. He completed his Diploma in Education, then did a Certificate in Non-Formal Education as an external student of the University of the South Pacific. He later completed his Bachelor of Education.
In 1980, he became Branch Executive of the Fiji Teachers Union and rose through the ranks to become Assistant General Secretary in 1993. He became General Secretary in 1999.
As a trade unionist Mr. Singh attained a certificate in International Labour Standards from the International Institute in Geneva. He further attended the International Institute in Turin and attained a Diploma in Industrial Relations.
Mr. Singh held the position of Chairman, Board of Directors of the Fiji Teachers Union Cooperative Thrift and Credit Limited for some 24 years. He studied Cooperative Management in Israel as well in Malaysia.
He was elected to Parliament following the general election in May 2006 on the Fiji Labour Party ticket from Macuata East Open Constituency but following the 5 December 2006 military coup, he returned to his post in the trade union. He served as the General Secretary till October 2022.
He served on various Boards as follows: -
i. Council Member Fiji National University and University of Fiji
ii. Deputy Chair & Chair National Training & Productivity Centre
iii. Fiji Teachers Registration Authority
iv. National Executive Board – Fiji Trades Union Congress
v. Worker Representative on the Employment Relations Advisory Board, National Occupational Health & Safety Advisory Board & National Employment Centre Board
vi. Executive Board Member Education International Asia Pacific Region
He made a political comeback by contesting the 2022 Fijian general election under the National Federation Party. In the subsequent Coalition Government led by Hon. Sitiveni Rabuka, he was appointed as Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations.
He is happily married to Mrs. Singh who is a retired teacher, and they have a son, a daughter and 4 grandchildren.

Ema Vueti is the President of the Pacific Islands Council of Queensland (PICQ). She has extensive experience in consulting, advocacy and research with Pacific communities and is involved in community engagement and support of PALM workers. Pacific Islands Council of Qld is a mandated  partner of the PALM Community Connections program. It is through years of advocacy  and Community Connections program that  a coordinated community support network and better outcomes for PALM workers are established .

Mark Skinner has been involved in the international student sector for 33 years. He is not an academic however he has been the creator, founder and architect of a number of core developments in the international student arena that have been groundbreaking by bringing his commercial and marketing background to higher education built around strategic partnerships with different universities. He created the 120,000 reader weekly higher education industry paper Campus Review Weekly in 1989; in 1994 he formed the first public private partnership with Central Queensland University to establish a network of 6 managed campuses in Australia, NZ and Fiji. This was the first Australian university to cross a state line and today its common practise; the partnership in 2008 was educating 10,000 annually from over 100 countries in when he retired; he created the privately funded student accommodation network Unilodge in 1996 which today has over 30,000 beds across Australia and NZ. Unilodge was the catalyst for the creation of a new property class of investment; in 2001 he created the Global Assessment Certificate and its supporting software iTAP (international Targeted Academic Profiler) for delivery to international high school students. Its taught in 11 countries and accepted by 300 universities; in 2020 he launched the Global Freshman Certificate a generic first year program delivered online that provides recognised prior learning access to universities in the major English speaking countries.  The ventures and projects have won national Australian export awards and graduated over 50,000 students during his hands on period of management.

In 1997 he opened the Central Queensland University campus in Suva and had 1630 international and domestic students by 2006.

The Fiji International Campus demonstrated the attraction and opportunities for Fiji and the South Pacific to have a sustainable share of the USD200b and 6.9m international students market which is projected to grow to 9.5m students in 2030 and USD433b.

Stephen is a Professor of Economics at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. He is the Director of the Development Policy Centre. Stephen edits Devpolicy.org, the blog of the Development Policy Centre. Stephen is a member of the Advisory Group appointed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility(PALM) scheme. Stephen is Chair of Femili PNG, an NGO that supports survivors of family and sexual violence in Papua New Guinea.  Prior to joining the Crawford School in 2009, Stephen was Chief Economist at the Australian Agency for International Development. He worked from 1994 to 2005 at the World Bank. In 2008, he worked on the Garnaut Review on Climate Change, where he managed the Review’s international work stream.

Chris Welberry is Newcrest Mining Limited’s General Manager Government and Industry Relations.

Chris joined Newcrest in August 2021 where he is responsible for global government relations and the company’s industry association participation.  He also represents Newcrest on the Namosi Joint Venture.

Prior to joining Newcrest, Chris worked for 20 years in the oil and gas industry in Australia and the United States. Earlier in his career, Chris worked for a number of Australian and international mining companies.

A native of Canberra Australia, he graduated from the Australian National University with a degree in Manufacturing Systems Engineering.  He also holds a graduate diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. Chris now lives in Melbourne with his wife and three children.

Haroon Ali is the Country Head of BSP Financial Group Ltd (BSP) in Fiji and has been in the role for just over five years. Prior to this appointment, he was BSP’s Group Chief Risk Officer for five years at the Bank’s head office in PNG.

He has more than 43 years of diverse banking experience of which more than 30 years have been with the ANZ Bank in Fiji and Melbourne. He is a generalist banker with experience ranging from Corporate/Commercial/SME, Retail Banking, Credit & Operating Risks, International/Trade Finance and banking operations.

Mr Ali has a Master of Management from Southern Cross University in Sydney and Business Management Certificate from Central Queensland University. He is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Fiji Institute of Bankers.

FIEAust CPEng NER APEC Engineer IntPE(Aus) Eng Exec BCivEng (Hons), MEngSc (Proj Mngt), MA (Strategy & Mngt).

Paul has held a number of training, engineering, regimental and staff appointments during his 30 year Army career.Paul has been appointed as Officer Commanding the 17th Construction Squadron, where he was responsible for delivery of a $5 million Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program construction project in Mapoon, Far North Queensland. Paul also completed a deployment as the Commanding Officer and Chief Engineer of the Force Extraction Unit during June to December 2013, responsible for successful delivery of the $8.5 million deconstruction project for remediation of Australian infrastructure within Multi National Base - Tarin Kot as part of the Australian Defence Force draw down in Afghanistan. Paul has also spent six years in Army Headquarters responsible for leading Land Force modernisation and infrastructure development. Paul is currently posted as Acting Assistant Secretary, Indo-Pacific Infrastructure Branch in the newly established Pacific Division, responsible for delivery and maintenance of security-related infrastructure for Indo-Pacific partner nations.

Honourable Viliame ‘Bill’ Gavoka is the current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Honourable Gavoka has over 30 years of experience in the tourism and travel industry. He has held several executive positions, including Thomas Cook, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa, Fiji Mocambo, Amunuca Island Resort and Spa and Fiji Visitors Bureau (now Tourism Fiji) as Chief Executive Officer.
He has held several Chairmanship and Board positions on businesses and statutory organisations, including Fijian Holdings Limited, Fiji TV and Media Niugini Ltd, South Sea Cruises/Blue Lagoon Cruises, Fiji Rugby Union, Fiji Hotel Association, Pacific Area Travel Association, Fiji Trade and Investment Board, Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and Air Terminal Services.
Earlier in his career, he was trained in librarianship and then went into banking with Citicorp of New York, serving in its Fiji operations.
He served for two years with the Territorial Forces of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
Honourable Gavoka is the Party Leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party of Fiji and has been a member of Parliament since 2014.

Allison Haworth West is the Executive Chair of Captain Cook Cruises Fiji Islands.  The company is a pioneer in authentic Fiji experiences offering small ship expedition cruises to remote locations currently on board MV Reef Endeavour and from November 2023 on board luxury expedition small ship MS Caledonian Sky.  In addition, the company also operates Day and Dinner experiences, charters and events with a fleet of three sailing vessels plus the company’s own Tivua Private Island.

Allison is the President of the Australia Fiji Business Council, has a degree in Business Management from the University of Technology Sydney, sits on the board of trustees of the Lizard Island Reef Research Foundation, is a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors and is an Ambassador for CMH Heliskiing in Canada. 

An accomplished executive with extensive Australian and international experience in leadership, executive management, government relations, project and service delivery, Leata Alaimoana was appointed Queensland Trade Commissioner for the Pacific in March 2023.

Leata began her career within the Investment Attraction Unit with what was then Queensland Department of State Development in 2002. The last two decades has taken Leata through a variety of management and leadership roles in the Queensland, Federal and Samoa Governments, Sunshine Coast City Council, Aviation Australia and Pacific Trade Invest Australia.  

During her time with Pacific Trade Invest Australia she facilitated over $33 million in investments across the Pacific Island region, creating economic opportunities while delivering positive social outcomes for communities.

Leata is a non-executive Director on the Boards of Good Return and Exemplar International Development, and is NAATI accredited as a Samoan interpreter/translator.  

Tim is the newly appointed Australian Trade Commissioner for the Pacific and Timor-Leste. As of October 2023, this position will be reintroduced in Suva, which is a statement about Austrade’s focus on driving expansion in Fiji and the Pacific markets.

Tim leads a team of two Business Development Managers in Suva, with a dedicated focus on Infrastructure and Food and Beverage opportunities. The team is also responsive to broader opportunities as they emerge, and are monitoring developments in technology and energy.

Most recently Tim was the Director, Strategy and Performance within the Office of Austrade’s CEO, where he led organisation-wide projects promoting the government’s diversification agenda in South Asia, South East Asia and the Pacific. Prior to Austrade, Tim worked in professional services helping exporters plan their international growth strategies, with a focus on the education sector.