Vodafone Fiji won the prestigious World Class Global Perfor­mance Excellence Award for achieving the highest level of quality performance by Asia Pacific Quality Organi­sation.

Vodafone Fiji is the only or­ganisation in the Asia Pacific region to be recognised twice at the 2017 AAPQO Awards ceremony.

Also recognised were the two evaluators Avita Singh and Fo­zia Muktar.

The awards was presented to Vodafone Fiji Deputy chair­person Russell Hewitt by Fiji National University Na­tional Training and Produc­tivity Centre manager Qual­ity Awards Bob Mitchell at the Vodafone headquarters.

Mr Mitchell received the award on behalf of the mobile company during the World Class Global Performance Ex­cellence Award night in the Philippines.

Mr Hewitt said: “On behalf of the company, I would also like to acknowledge and thank not only the people leadership of the organisation but also those talented individuals who drive the thought leadership behind our achievements.

“This is what has helped the transformation of Vodafone Fiji into a World Class Organi­zation that is relentless in our desire to achieve Business Ex­cellence.”

Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj

FOZIA MUKTAR

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Originally from Nadroga but moved to Suva to complete my tertiary education.

I have advanced my career with Vodafone Fiji Limited as a senior public relations per­sonnel and work passionately in accepting challenges and growing on opportunities in a dynamic organisation.

Having embraced the empowering and business excellence culture of Vodafone Way for five years now, I continue to learn everyday tofurther my knowledge and skills.

I hold double gold medals from University of the South Pacific and entered into Gradu­ate Assistantship for a short stint doing my Masters and tutoring.

I then decided to venture further than academics hence joined a non-government organisation Projects Abroad before jump­ing ships to the corporate world to start with Vodafone.

2. What does the award mean to you?

Vodafone Fiji Limited is the only organi­sation from Fiji and the Pacific to have re­ceived accolade of World Class Award in Global Performance Excellence Aw.ard from the Asia Pacific Quality Organisation.

Vodafone is proud to have been the only or­ganisation in the Asia Pacific region to have been accolade the award for second time.

At the awards ceremony held in Philip­pines in front of over 1000 international del­egates, two of Pacific’s first APQO Assessors had also been recognised.

Both the recognitions are a huge achieve­ment for Vodafone Fiji.

Vodafone’s endeavor to make good deci­sions based on strategic foresight which is backed up with a very motivated team of people who are passionate about doing the best they can.

It is a great achievement to be acknowl­edged by APQO as not only Fiji’s but the Pacific’s first examiner to the GPEA interna­tional judging panel. The recognition as an international examiner is an added gist to the passion I have for my work.

Assessing international submissions has its challenges but also pose a great oppor­tunity to understand and learn of quality, innovations and business excellence of the international organisations.

I would like to acknowledge the guidance and empowerment of the leadership at Vodafoneand the team of innovative brains that I learn from every day.

3. Can you tell us a famous motto or quote that keeps you going?

Maya Angelou has been an inspirational soul and my mother.

Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better, Do better!

My mother says– make sure your character is right in the things you do; cause reputa­tion is made by what people think of you but your character is made by you – in what you think of yourself.

4. Will you be participating as evaluators in upcoming awards?

Yes, I will be along with my colleague Avita. We have been nominated once again by the APQO Fiji Council to for the 2018 GPEA cy­cle.

5. Can you tell us a bit about your future plans?

It has been an adrenaline-charged five years working for a dynamic organisation that empowers its people, allows them to think outside the box and explore new boundaries. I am looking forward to furthering my Mas­ters and the surprises the future holds.

AVITA SINGH

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I joined Vodafone Fiji Limited in the role of Specialist Occupation Health and Safety (OHS) and Quality assurance. This is my fourth year in this dynamic organisation. I have eight years of experience in the OHS and quality assurance industry.

I began my career with Vodafone in 2014 so it has been four challenging and wonderful years with Vodafone. I hail from the Jet Set town Nadi. I moved to Suva to complete my tertiary education and have been in Suva for 10 years now. I am proud mother of a very handsome three-year-old.

2. What does the award mean to you and your organisation?

This award has been given as recognition in our participation as evaluators for global per­formance excellence awards. Here we were assigned the task of evaluating submissions from international organisations. These sub­mission were evaluated against the Malcolm Baldrige Framework which is US based busi­ness excellence criteria. The challenge here was understanding and doing background research about these organisation’s without being physically present on-site.

This award is a stepping stone towards my career goal of being an international audi­tor. With the organisational culture and best practices presented by these organisations, I am able to grasp knowledge on new innova­tive ideas which can be adapted to Vodafone.

3. Can you tell us a famous motto or quote that keeps you going?

Never give up in life. Keep trying as all things are possible. Always respect your par­ents and elders, without them you are noth­ing.

4. Will you be participating as evalutors in upcoming awards?

Yes,I would love to continue.

5.Can you tell us a bit about your future plans?

I am currently pursuing my Masters in Business Administration. Upon completion, if the opportunity arises, I wish to further my education in the OHS genre