Fiji Lags in Female Leadership Roles

As chief executive officers of their respective households, there is nothing to stop women from being the same in the corporate world, a leadership expert at Asia Development Bank said.

Sarah Boxall led a four-day programme in Suva for senior executive women in leadership with aspirations to work in the corporate sector.

Organised by Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants it helped women identify how to build confidence, expand skill sets and knowledge of business operations, and establish networks with other women in senior positions in the private sector.

Ms Boxall is an expert in economic empowerment of women at Asia Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative.

Institute president, Wiliki Takiveikata said the training boosted the capacity of participants to thrive in the workplaces.

The pioneers of the training now have practical tools to be used strategically to take their careers to the next level, he said.

“We hope they draw strength from the network they will establish through the programme and be motivated by the stories our guest speakers will share on career transitions, being an effective operator in a board-setting and other interesting topics,” Mr Takiveikata said.

The four-day training was delivered by Gina Houng-Lee and academic Nacaniela Rika.

Participation is capped at 25 women from 15 different organisations.

Meanwhile Ms Boxall said Fiji lagged in female leadership roles at corporate level, compared to neighbouring island countries, the consequence of which was a country where that was yet to reach its full economic potential.

“This programme is designed to take women to the final role as a senior executive,” she said yesterday.

But the challenges were in organisational policies, sexual harassment in the workplace that prevented women from staying in jobs, and at legislation and policy level, Ms Boxall said.

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