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SPBD SPBD

Lorraine Seeto (far left in white shirt) in Vanua Levu with SPBD members.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER TOMORROW:

SPBD DIRECTOR LORRAINE SEETO

Lorraine Seeto is a Fiji board director with South Pacific What does the role of Chairperson involve?
Business Development and the Chairperson of the SPBD judg-
ing commission for the Business Woman of the Year awards. Lorraine Seeto: The role of the Chairperson is to coordinate
We travelled with her to Vanua Levu recently and had the the judging process to ensure that good governance and trans-
opportunity to learn about her journey with SPBD. parency is reflected in its entirety. It is key to collaborate-
with my fellow judges to assure our finalists of the different
Bula Lorraine. Could you tell us about your professional categories that they have had the opportunity to showcase
history and how has this prepared you for your roles with their businesses and convince the panel of judges of their
SPBD? progress and their edge over others. Previously we judges
divided ourselves into two groups and travel around Viti Levu
Lorraine Seeto: With 38 years of central banking experi- and Vanua Levu to conduct site visits and interviews. How-
ence at the Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) and having performed ever, in 2020 we travelled as one group to ensure that all the
many executive roles from Chief Manager to Advisor to the judges were present at all the finalists’ interviews and onsite
Governors, including opportunities to serve on boards, profes- visits. As the chairperson, I had to ensure that oversight was
sional committees and work with international organisations, provided during all interviews and visits and I was present at
government ministries and statutory bodies, I have acquired each event.
a multifaceted skillset and knowledge to perform the role In the process of determining the winners, all the judges
as Chairperson of the SPBD Judging Committee. In fact, I have equal prerogative in endorsing the finalists and surpris-
was appointed the Chairperson for a number of years while I ingly we tend to congregate towards the same choice. That
was at the RBF. Through my network and coordinating role, makes my job easier or else we have to vote independently to
people skills, value adding to processes and having a team- reach a consensus. A set of criteria for each category which
oriented attitude towards getting the task completed in a is used as a reference point for the assessment exercise. In
professional and respectful manner, it was an honour to be addition, the information collated by the SPBD staff aids with
appointed the Chairperson. My fellow judges are an instru- the judging process.
mental group of professional women who are committed and Upon endorsement of the winners, the SPBD organises an
passionate about the livelihoods of the SPBD entrepreneurs. Awards Night to acknowledge the finalists and winners. The
When it comes to delivering optimal outcomes, it is key to event is attended by the founder of SPBD, Mr Gregory Casa-
get the job done well despite the challenges, different per- grande who travels all the way from New York and includes
sonalities and opinions - there is one common objective and the SPBD entrepreneurs and the judges. As Chair, I am
we all strive to meet it together. required to deliver a motivational speech and of course, we

Islands Business, March 2021 37