Response for participation at the annual Certified Practicing Accountant’s (CPA) Australia-Fiji Branch 2017 Congress has been overwhelming, says branch vice president,Nouzab Fareed. The annual congress gets underway today at Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort on Yanuca Island.

One of the focuses for this year’s congress is our Sugar Industry.

Earlier this year Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the sugar industry is critical to the economy.

The chairman for Fiji Sugar Corporation Vishnu Mohan will be amongst the international speakers, on the topic: ‘The Future of Fiji Sugar.’

Mr Mohan said that he will be addressing the global scenario and the industry’s scenario and what it means to Fiji. Also looking at the strategies and action plans of the industry and how we are going about trying to take advantage of the global situation.

He added that at the same time addressing the internal issues like transportation, mills, the people and more.

Mr Mohan will be focusing on the Sugar Industry, its progress and challenges.

The keynote speech will be delivered by former CPA President Graeme Wade of Australia.

Mr Wade has long experience at partner level in Australia and specialises in areas like agribusiness and mergers and acquisitions. He has also chaired Australia’s National Basketball League.

The theme for this year’s congress is ‘Connecting the Biggest Minds.’

This event will feature a total of 9 speakers of which eight are from overseas.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum will also be attending the event tomorrow to deliver an address. He is busy in Parliament today.

The event will end tomorrow.

Comments from major Sponsors

Vodafone Fiji

Vodafone Fiji Chief Commercial Officer, Ronald Prasad said they have been sponsoring the CPA Fiji congress for over 10 years now.

“The main reason why we are sponsoring the event is to ensure that we are able to contribute towards the platform where people can come in and learn.”

He added that by listening to the speakers, people will understand the aspects of the market and what’s happening within the financial sector and the best practices to the tackle issues.  Also the importance of having a healthy workforce and bring into effect technology into the business.

Some of these are generally covered within the CPA forum, he said.

“It is also more or less a premier event which basically not only attended by the financial sectors but a lot of business people too, executives as it provides a networking avenue for them to be discussing challenges that affects the different types of businesses.”

Mr Prasad added that the main aim for them as one of the major sponsors is giving back to the community.

“We are helping create a platform where people can come in and learn.

“Our sponsorship in events and congresses of this nature is more or less to contribute to the business sector because that’s our main customer base.

“We want to be able to give something back to the community especially to the young accountants and young financial analysts and businesses that attend such forums.”

It’s not a forum that is focused predominantly on finance, but it has a wide cross-section of items to discuss, he said.

“It is very good for business sectors to attend,” said Mr Prasad.

Westpac Fiji.

General Manager Brett Hooker said this will be their sixth year to sponsor the CPA Congress together with its business partners Vodafone Fiji.

“ Our sponsorships allows industry leaders and professionals to hear about new insights into the trends and issues of the different business  industries and issues shaping our lives.

“The theme of this congress is connecting the biggest minds which is also what our aim is to provide a platform where they can be challenged by the thought leaders, the game changers and the technological innovators.

“For us, it’s also about showing how valuable CPA’s are to business and to the economic development of Fiji.”

Mr Hooker added that over those six years they have seen the Congress excel at delivering events that inspire and invigorate. And this year is no different.

“The programme and speakers get better each year, and we believe 2017 will be a stand-out,” he said.

CPA Congress is the premier event for the accounting and finance profession. Attend to connect with thousands of peers and engage with the world’s most recognised thought leaders, policy makers and innovators.

The 2017 CPA Congress is a critical first step to forge a path forward and address today’s unprecedented issues and provide tangible skills, insights and practical ideas.

The congress will also provide you opportunities to benefit from strategies aimed at building business agility and resilience to changing market trends and learn innovative techniques and problem solving tactics to enhance your organisation’s competitive advantage.

SPEAKERS DAY 1:

Graeme Wade, Former CPA President
Keynote Speaker

John Shackleton, Businessman, Sporting Coach, Masters Swimming Champion
– Mindfulness in Business

Dame Jenny Shipley, first female Prime Minister of NZ
– Trade with Australia and New Zealand – How can the Pacific do better?

James O`Brien, Founder & Director of CFO Accelerator
– Why CFOs need to start thinking like the CEO

Martin Snedden, man behind New Zealand tourism’s Tourism 2025 Plan
– Tourism 2025

Speakers DAY 2:

Peter Holmes á Court, One of Australia’s most respected entrepreneurs and businessman
– The Spirit of Entrepreneurship

Sir Michael Hill, Australasia’s most successful retail jeweller, entrepreneur and philanthropist
– Thinking Bigger: Drive & Motivation needed in today’s modern sector.

Peter Munckton, Chief Economist and Head of Market Strategy, Bank of Queensland
– Broader Pacific Economy, How it affects Fiji

Vishnu Mohan, Chairman Fiji Sugar Corporation
– The Future of Fiji Sugar

Nadine Champion, truly inspiring speaker, martial arts Sensei(teacher) and entrepreneur
-10 seconds of courage: tactics to enhance Life Lessons from a fighter

Feedback: selita.bolanavanua@fijisun.com.fj