As the winner of the 2019 Senior Manager of the Year at the Disability Gala Awards, Georgina Iva Naigulevu has more than proven that physical limitations cannot keep her from having a successful career.

The 36-year-old took home the Senior Manager Award during the inaugural awards night at the Holiday Inn, Suva, last Saturday night.

She currently works as the Senior Manager Applications Projects and Innovation at the HFC Bank.

Ms Naigulevu was born with Bilateral Congenital Talipes, which has since made it difficult for her to walk.

Despite her limitations in walking, she set out to achieve her academic goals, attending the Frank Hilton Special School and then Suva Grammar High School.

She later graduated with a degree from the University of the South Pacific.

Ms Naigulevu majored in Computer Science and Information Technology and has had a career in Information Communication Technology (ICT) spanning more than 10 years.

“My disability is my ability to walk, so I did not want to go to classes at times, but my parents would send me anyway, telling me that God is walking with me and that has always kept me going.”

Her career started with the Ministry of Youth and Sports where she was an Information Technology officer.

She worked on the first pilot for the National Youth Service Scheme which is now known as the National Employment Centre.

“I love software development, I like creating applications and websites, it became a passion for me,” Ms Naigulevu said.

She has also worked for the Fiji National Provident Fund and was one of the core IT developers when the institution underwent reforms.

She also headed a regional team looking after 12 countries during her term as Manager Management Information System and Business Performance at the ANZ Bank.

Her father, whom she considers an inspiration in her life, proudly watched when she took to the stage to receive her award last Saturday.

“I want to thank my parents, the caregivers, donors’ everyone who is a part of this network in helping make life a little easier for people with disabilities,” Ms Naigulevu said.

“The care that you give to disabled people by building ramps and elevators, is also helping the people who are able bodied.

“Because someday as people grow older, they will face some form of limitation, so in actual fact you are caring for yourself as well.”

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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