It was a proud and an exciting moment for Manjula Dayal who won the 2017 Westpac Business Woman of the Year award on Saturday night.

Mrs Dayal was among those honoured in the Women In Business awards night at the Grand Pacific Hotel.

“I am very proud. This is my first award for Women In Business and I feel excited for achieving the award,” Mrs Dayal said.

“I would like to thank my husband, Prakash Dayal, my family; employees and God for helping me achieve this award.”

Mrs Manjula, 57, has spent 30 years in business. She is the managing/director for Dayals Sawmillers Ltd which started operation in 1994 with 30 employees.

Today her business employs about 200 people. Her business grew from a small exporter of Fijian wood products to being Fiji’s largest exporter of value-added wood products.

The business won the Prime Minister’s Exporter of the Year Awards for five years, which is attributed to her leadership and management skills.

She dedicated her entire career in her family business since 1990 that she owns with her husband.

Mrs Dayal served as a member of Ba Rural Authority for three years, advisory councillor for Yalalevu/Ba Town and Varadoli suburbs for the past three years, trustee and treasurer of Ba Women’s Forum, an active member of the Hindu Council of Fiji and a member of the Soroptimist International.

Another category that was introduced at this year’s event was the Distinguished National Achievement Award.

This was presented to Cathy Wong for the role she played in the achievement of the gold medal by the Vodafone Fijian 7s team at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and her contribution towards Fiji.

In receiving the award, Ms Wong thanked the WIB organisers for recognising the contribution women made Fiji’s development.

The Winners:

Business Woman of the Year Award: Manjula Dayal (Dayals Sawmillers Ltd)

Public Sector Executive Woman of the Year Award: Yolinda Chan (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism)

Public Sector Manager of the Year Award: Louisa Tuimabualau (Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji)

Manager of the Year Award:  Atelina Muavono (BSP Life Fiji Ltd)

Executive Woman of the Year Award: Litiana Loabuka (Fiji Sports Council)

Aspiring Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Krystle Stoddart-Buksh (Kids First Fiji Ltd)

Distinguished National Achievement Award:  Cathy Wong

Employer of Choice:  ANZ Bank

National Contribution Award: Jenny Seeto