Page 23 - IB April 2018

Women
TIMES UP Westpac Bank Fiji reaffirming its support

for the awards night on May 4 at the Grand
Pacific Hotel.
These awards will honour Fiji’s out-

Women to rise up to the challenge standing businesswomen who have
demonstrated excellence and leadership
in their business or profession and also
their service to the community.
In Fiji, the media plays a vital role in
inspiring women by featuring stories
about successful women in business and
leadership roles by sharing their experi-
ence, challenges and success.
These stories provide inspirations to
women who look to success and that is
why it’s incredibly important that Fiji
celebrate successful women.
Early this year, the Royal Fiji Military
Forces announced that they will be em-
ploying more women.[WHOS SAYING
THIS, ATTRIBUTION)
Westpac General Manager Brett Hooker
challenged guests and participants to
at least take one application form and
nominate that deserving someone that
they think needs to be recognised for
achievements and success.
The Winners: 2017 “We are building a strong reputation
• Business Woman of the Year Award: not just for Fiji but across the Pacific by
Manjula Dayal (Dayals Sawmillers Ltd) empowering women through education,
Guests that attended the Women in Business Awards • Public Sector Executive Woman of the
launch in Suva. Photo: Nanise Volau with free financial literacy workshops
Year Award: Yolinda Chan (Ministry of and Westpac women’s education grants,”
Industry, Trade and Tourism) Hooker said.
• Public Sector Manager of the Year Award:
By Nanise Volau As the first bank to employ female
Louisa Tuimabualau (Maritime Safety tellers and introduce paid parental leave
Authority of Fiji)
It is now Times Up for inequity in pay • Manager of the Year Award: Atelina in Australia, 55 per cent of Westpac Fiji
structures, board representations and Muavono (BSP Life Fiji Ltd) employees are female.
leadership positions and any form of ha- • Executive Woman of the Year Award: Since 2003, Westpac has been part of
rassment against women in the workplace Litiana Loabuka (Fiji Sports Council) the WIB Awards, celebrating the enormous
has to stop. • Aspiring Entrepreneur of the Year Award: contribution women from different sectors
President of Women in Business (WIB) Krystle Stoddart-Buksh (Kids First Fiji make towards the social and economic
Nur Bano Ali, during the launch of the Ltd) well-being of Fiji.
Women in Business Awards in Suva in • Distinguished National Achievement More women in Fiji are starting their
March, said they were committed to the Award: Cathy Wong own businesses and taking on careers
agenda of increasing more women in • Employer of Choice: ANZ Bank which predominately were purely male
commerce and management at the high- • National Contribution Award: Jenny dominated.
est level. Seeto Over the years the WIB committee
WIB has joined women from around has seen a growing number of women
the globe in a global campaign of Times Business Awards 2015. participating in commerce and a growing
Up to cut out all forms of discrimination • Female Employer of Choice – Hot Bread number of women holding senior corpo-
against women. Kitchen rate positions.
“This will increasingly bring the change • Young Achiever of the Year – Anika Taylor, The objective of WIB is to encourage
in attitudes and help stomp out the inequi- RagBags Fiji women participation in commerce to at-
ties that have for too long being ignored • Aspiring Entrepreneur of the Year – tain higher position in their organisations,
and not addressed,” Ali said. Sukhia Go, The Gift Hutt especially in leadership positions.
“At Women in Business we believe that • Manager of the Year – Ema Natadra, TLTB This is year WIB Awards have four
more women in corporate leadership will • Executive of the Year – Premila Kumar, categories-Busisnesswoman, Executive
change the environment within which will Consumer Council Woman, Manager and Aspiring Entre-
result in fairer structures to be created for • Business Woman of the Year – Debra preneur.
all people to grow and develop using all Sadranu, Senikai Spas The Executive and Manager will have
the talent available to them.” private and public sectors winners and the
The event also saw a major boost with Employer of Choice.

Islands Business, April 2018 23